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Tilia x europaea Wratislaviensis - Common Lime

Tilia x europaea Wratislaviensis
Common Lime, European Lime

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This old variety of tree is still captivating with its elegant conical to pyramidal habit and the changing colours of its foliage. The young leaves have a lovely yellow hue in spring, then turn green in summer, while the young shoots that form during this season also emerge in yellow tones. The summer flowering is fragrant and, when autumn arrives, the vegetation lights up again in yellow and orange. A beautiful medium to large, well-proportioned, highly cold-resistant tree, preferring rich, moist, and well-drained soils.
Flower size
1 cm
Height at maturity
15 m
Spread at maturity
10 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -34°C
Soil moisture
all types, Moist soil
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Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time January to February, October to December
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Flowering time June
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Description

Tilia x europaea 'Wratislaviensis' is a more than a century-old variety of Common Lime tree native to Poland. This beautiful tree is of medium to large size, but it is more compact and better suited to today's gardens than the larger parent species. Its foliage is particularly decorative with its changing colours throughout the season. The young leaves emerge yellow in spring and gradually turn green. Young shoots continue to form in summer, starting off butter yellow and contrasting nicely with the now green foliage. In autumn, the tree turns yellow with hints of orange before the leaves fall to the ground. In June, this Lime tree produces the same fragrant white flowers as the botanical species, delighting bees.

The Lime tree is a representative member of the Tiliaceae family, and by far the most well-known, although this botanical family comprises around fifty genera and approximately 450 species! Tilia x europaea, European Lime or Common Lime, is a hybrid between T. cordata, a species with small leaves and T. platyphyllos, or Big-leafed Lime. The European Lime, a hybrid created hundreds of years ago and named by the famous botanist Linnaeus in 1751, is, like its parents, a tall tree capable of reaching heights of 30m or more.
Wratislaviensis is probably a mutation of the 'Pallida' variety and was discovered in 1898 in Wroclaw, the third-largest city in the country, located in western Poland. Its growth is smaller than that of the botanical species, as 10 years after planting, it will reach approximately 6m in height and 4m in width, while its mature size will peak at 15m in height and 10m in width. It naturally takes on a pyramidal to conical shape, very regular and balanced, which closely resembles the shape of its leaves. These leaves are heart-shaped, with an acuminate (pointed) tip and a slightly asymmetrical cordate (heart-shaped) base (the lower part of the leaf forms two rounded lobes on either side of the petiole). The fairly large leaves measure from 7 to 10cm in length and 6 to 9cm in width, and their edges are finely toothed. They are especially remarkable for their colour, which changes throughout the season. In spring, yellow leaves emerge, giving the tree a very bright appearance, before turning green in summer. On this green foliage, new shoots appear in a butter-yellow colour, forming a halo around the Lime tree's crown. This visual effect is more pronounced in young, rapidly growing specimens, as mature trees produce fewer summer shoots. Finally, in autumn, the foliage turns yellow with hints of orange to end the season on a beautiful note before the leaves fall.
Like its counterparts, this Lime tree is also appreciated for its flowering. In June, it produces pendulous corymbs composed of 3 to 11 cream-white, fragrant flowers, which attract bees.

This beautiful tree, with its regular and attractive architecture, is appealing due to the brightness of its foliage, which can tolerate full sun. It is well-suited to medium to large gardens, being ornamental enough to justify being planted as a specimen tree on a lawn, and can also be the centrepiece of a mixed bed. Play with colour and form contrasts by planting Sambucus nigra Black Lace Eva at its base, an Elderberry with finely cut, almost black foliage that contrasts nicely with the Lime tree's yellow and produces beautiful pink flowers in May-June, which stand out against the dark foliage. A Cercis canadensis Eternal Flame will also create a surprise with its changing foliage, dark red in spring when the Lime tree is yellow, then turning orange and yellow to blend in with the Lime tree, before greening like it in summer and colouring again in autumn. Its pinkish-purple flowers, appearing directly on the wood before the leaves, are also a spectacle on their own, at the beginning of each season. And in the foreground, plant a Winged Spindle (Euonymus alatus) whose foliage will turn bright red in autumn, completing your colourful scene.

Tilia x europaea Wratislaviensis - Common Lime in pictures

Tilia x europaea Wratislaviensis - Common Lime (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 15 m
Spread at maturity 10 m
Habit conical, pyramidal
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time June
Inflorescence Corymb
Flower size 1 cm
Fragrance Fragrant, Sweet, gentle, honey-like fragrance, with a hint of lemon
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Flowering description Remarkably nectar-rich flowering.
Fruit colour green

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Tilia

Species

x europaea

Cultivar

Wratislaviensis

Family

Tiliaceae

Other common names

Common Lime, European Lime

Botanical synonyms

Tilia x Wratislaviensis

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference20280

Other Tilia - Linden

Available to order
€5.50 Bare root

Available in 2 sizes

Available to order
€89.00 Bare root

Available in 2 sizes

18
€89.00 7.5L/10L pot
Available to order
€109.00 7.5L/10L pot
9
€65.00 7.5L/10L pot

Planting and care

The Wratislaviensis Lime tree is best planted in autumn or spring. It is extremely cold-resistant, but it is best not to expose it to strong winds. A sunny exposure will suit it well or at most partially shaded. It adapts to most soils, except for really dry ones, with the ideal being a fertile, moist, well-drained soil, although it is capable of withstanding temporary water excesses. Soak the root ball in a bucket of water for fifteen minutes before planting and dig a hole 60 cm in width and depth. Mix planting compost with the existing soil, position the root ball, fill in around it, and water abundantly. Water regularly for the first two years to promote its establishment, and then only in hot and dry periods.
This tree requires little maintenance, but it can be attacked by aphids, which, by emitting honeydew, a sweet substance, create conditions for the development of sooty mould. This fungus darkens the leaves, which affects the aesthetics but is not harmful to the plant. Spray with black soap to get rid of it as long as the plant is not too tall to be treated.

Planting period

Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time January to February, October to December

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow
Type of use Border, Free-standing
Hardiness Hardy down to -34°C (USDA zone 4) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture all types, Moist soil, Deep, loamy, well-drained

Care

Pruning instructions In the first few years, prune to train by removing branches that are located near the base of the trunk in late winter, outside of the freezing period.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March
Soil moisture all types, Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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