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Plant care

Broad-Leaved Lime (Large-Leaved Linden) care

Tilia platyphyllos

Also called Broad-Leaved Lime, Large-Leaved Linden, Bigleaf Linden.

RHS H6USDA 4–8Pet-safeIndoor Up to 40 m tall (130 ft)

Watering rhythm

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Weekly during establishment; supplemental watering in prolonged drought

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Moist, well-drained loam; tolerates clay and chalk

Humidity

Moderate — typical temperate European humidity

Temp

-20°C to 35°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Up to 40 m tall (130 ft)

Care at a glance

Light

Bright but filtered. Broad-Leaved Lime burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Full sun to part shade. Best flowering and most symmetrical crowns in open, sunny positions. Tolerates dappled shade but growth slows markedly under a dense canopy. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering broad-leaved lime: weekly during establishment; supplemental watering in prolonged drought. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Prefers moist but well-drained conditions. Once established, it copes with short dry spells but benefits from deep watering during extended summer droughts. Avoid waterlogged soils.

Soil and pot

Broad-Leaved Lime grows best in moist, well-drained loam; tolerates clay and chalk. Grows in sandy, loamy, or clay soils at pH 5.5–8.0. More tolerant of alkaline and chalk soils than many Tilia species. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Broad-Leaved Lime sits happiest at around Moderate — typical temperate European humidity humidity and -20°C to 35°C (-4°F to 95°F). No specific humidity needs beyond what naturally occurs in a temperate garden setting. Adequate soil moisture is more critical than atmospheric humidity. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed broad-leaved lime sparingly. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Established trees in fertile loam rarely need supplemental feeding. Avoid high-nitrogen applications that promote lush foliage attractive to aphids. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on broad-leaved lime in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Linden aphid and honeydew — Heavily susceptible to aphid colonies on new growth, producing sticky honeydew and sooty mould. Monitor from late spring; wash off colonies with a strong water jet or apply insecticidal soap before populations peak.
  • Basal suckering — Produces prolific root suckers around the trunk base that, if left, develop into thickets. Remove suckers by pulling or cutting flush with the root when they appear in spring and summer.
  • Powdery mildew — White fungal coating on leaves in warm, dry summers with cool nights. Improve air circulation by pruning congested growth; severe cases respond to systemic fungicide application.

Propagation

Seed: stratify in moist sand at 4°C for 5–6 months; germination can be erratic and slow. Semi-hardwood cuttings in July with IBA hormone and mist propagation achieve moderate success. Grafting onto Tilia platyphyllos or T. cordata rootstocks is the standard nursery method for cultivars. Basal suckers can be detached and grown on in autumn. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Broad-Leaved Lime is pet-safe. The genus Tilia is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA. Tilia platyphyllos has no known toxic principles to companion animals. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Broad-Leaved Lime care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Tilia platyphyllos?

Tilia platyphyllos is most commonly called Broad-Leaved Lime, but it is also known as Broad-Leaved Lime, Large-Leaved Linden, Bigleaf Linden. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Broad-Leaved Lime apply identically to anything sold as Large-Leaved Linden.

How much light does broad-leaved lime need?

Broad-Leaved Lime grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Full sun to part shade. Best flowering and most symmetrical crowns in open, sunny positions. Tolerates dappled shade but growth slows markedly under a dense canopy.

How often should I water broad-leaved lime?

Water broad-leaved lime weekly during establishment; supplemental watering in prolonged drought. Prefers moist but well-drained conditions. Once established, it copes with short dry spells but benefits from deep watering during extended summer droughts. Avoid waterlogged soils. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is broad-leaved lime toxic to cats and dogs?

Broad-Leaved Lime is pet-safe. The genus Tilia is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA. Tilia platyphyllos has no known toxic principles to companion animals.

What USDA hardiness zone does broad-leaved lime grow in?

Broad-Leaved Lime is rated for USDA zone 4–8 and RHS hardiness H6. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Broad-Leaved Lime deep-dive guides

Every aspect of broad-leaved lime care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Broad-Leaved Lime qualifies for 12 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Broad-Leaved Lime is also known as Broad-Leaved Lime, Large-Leaved Linden, and Bigleaf Linden.