Small-leaved lime

Tilia cordata

Small-leaved lime grows at a moderate pace with naturally small, heart-shaped leaves and pale, fragrant summer flowers that draw pollinators even on a potted tree. Bark stays relatively smooth for longer than on oak or hornbeam, and it tolerates hard pruning and reliably backbuds when cut back.

Care at a glance

Watering: Never let it dry out fully in leaf. Roughly every 2 days in spring, 1 in summer, 2 in autumn and 7 in winter.
Light: Full sun to light shade.
Winter: Hardy once established; loses its leaves and rests through winter. Protect it when the forecast drops below -8 °C.
Feeding: Every 14 days, Apr to Sep, paused in the hottest weeks.
Repotting: Every 2 to 3 years, as buds swell, in Mar.
Growth: Moderate growth. Hardy in zones 3 to 7.

The work calendar

Months for each kind of work on a Small-leaved lime
Work	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	NNov	DDec
Prune			Mar	Apr				Nov
Wire	Jan	Feb	Mar					Nov	Dec
Pinch					May	Jun	Jul

Styles that suit it

Moyogi Chokkan Hokidachi

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