Small-leaved lime, Little-leaf linden
Tilia cordata
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A deciduous tree. It grows to 22 m high. The trunk is thick and short. The bark is brown and smooth at first but becomes dark and cracked. The branches arch downwards. The crown is dense and oval. The leaves are alternate and 4-8 cm long. They are dark green and shiny on top and with orange tufts of hair in the junctions of the veins underneath. They have teeth around the edge. The leaf stalk is not hairy. The flowers are greenish-yellow. They are in clusters of 7-8 on each leafy bract. The fruit are grey. They are neither ribbed nor hairy.
These have also been in the Tiliaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is native to W. Asia and Europe. It grows in the hills but not mountains in Europe. It needs cool, deep, moist loam soils. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. Arboretum Tasmania. Hobart Botanical Gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Armenia, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Eurasia, Europe (country/location of origin), Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, North America, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA
How it is used for food
The flowers were brewed for Linden tea. Young flowers should be used. The leaves are boiled with other vegetables. They can be used in salads. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The nectar from the flowers is sucked by children.
A famine food. It is sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Leaves, sap, flowers, flowers - tea
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from suckers.
Its other names
Local names
Blini, Eglamur, Liepa, Lind, Lipa, Loreni, Sitnolisna lipa, Tiu, Tiyoel