Growli
Let's go

Plant care

Mongolian Linden (Mongolian Lime) care

Tilia mongolica

Also called Mongolian Linden, Mongolian Lime.

RHS H7USDA 3–6Pet-safeIndoor 7.5–10.5 m tall (25–35 ft)

Watering rhythm

2weeks

Weekly during establishment; every 2 weeks in dry summers

Jump to schedule→Get smart reminders in the app

Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Moist, well-drained loam; tolerates mild alkalinity

Humidity

Moderate — adapted to continental temperate climates

Temp

-35°C to 33°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

7.5–10.5 m tall (25–35 ft)

Care at a glance

Light

In the wild mongolian linden grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Full sun to partial shade. Best foliage colour and flowering occur in full sun. Tolerates moderate shade but may become more open and less floriferous under a canopy. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for weekly during establishment; every 2 weeks in dry summers for mongolian linden, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil. Less drought-tolerant than T. tomentosa; do not allow soil to dry out completely, especially during summer. Mulch root zone to retain moisture.

Soil and pot

Mongolian Linden grows best in moist, well-drained loam; tolerates mild alkalinity. Grows best in fertile loam at pH 6.0–8.0. Tolerates slightly sandy or clay soils if drainage is adequate. Not tolerant of salt spray or heavily compacted soils. 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

Mongolian Linden sits happiest at around Moderate — adapted to continental temperate climates humidity and -35°C to 33°C (-31°F to 91°F). Native to semi-arid regions of Mongolia and northern China, so it handles periods of low humidity better than European lindens. No supplemental humidity required in typical garden settings. 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 mongolian linden sparingly. Apply balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Relatively slow-growing; avoid excessive nitrogen which can make growth lush and more attractive to Japanese beetles. Mulch annually with compost. 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 mongolian linden in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Japanese beetle feeding — Beetles skeletonise leaves from late June onward. Hand-pick or apply neem-based products; do not use Japanese beetle pheromone traps near the tree as they attract more beetles than they capture.
  • Verticillium wilt — Soil-borne fungal disease can cause sudden branch dieback or wilting. No effective chemical control; remove and destroy infected wood, maintain vigorous growth, and avoid wounding roots.
  • Slow or erratic seed germination — Seeds have complex dormancy and can take 2 years or more to germinate without thorough stratification. Obtain fresh seed and provide warm moist stratification followed by a cold period for best results.

Propagation

Seed: fresh seed stratified warm-moist for 3 months then cold-moist for 3 months improves germination. Stored seed germinates poorly without extended treatment. Semi-hardwood cuttings with IBA rooting hormone under mist in midsummer. Grafting onto T. cordata or T. mongolica rootstocks is preferred for named selections. 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

Mongolian Linden is pet-safe. The genus Tilia is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA. Tilia mongolica 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.

Mongolian Linden care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Tilia mongolica?

Tilia mongolica is most commonly called Mongolian Linden, but it is also known as Mongolian Linden, Mongolian Lime. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Mongolian Linden apply identically to anything sold as Mongolian Lime.

How much light does mongolian linden need?

Mongolian Linden grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Full sun to partial shade. Best foliage colour and flowering occur in full sun. Tolerates moderate shade but may become more open and less floriferous under a canopy.

How often should I water mongolian linden?

Water mongolian linden weekly during establishment; every 2 weeks in dry summers. Prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil. Less drought-tolerant than T. tomentosa; do not allow soil to dry out completely, especially during summer. Mulch root zone to retain moisture. 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 mongolian linden toxic to cats and dogs?

Mongolian Linden is pet-safe. The genus Tilia is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA. Tilia mongolica has no known toxic principles to companion animals.

What USDA hardiness zone does mongolian linden grow in?

Mongolian Linden is rated for USDA zone 3–6 and RHS hardiness H7. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Mongolian Linden deep-dive guides

Every aspect of mongolian linden care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Mongolian Linden qualifies for 11 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Mongolian Linden is also commonly called Mongolian Linden or Mongolian Lime.