Tilia cordata 'Streetwise'

Tree Information

Specialities

Tolerances

Wet Soil: Low

Dry Soil: High

Lime: Medium

Tilia cordata ‘Streetwise’, is a medium to large deciduous tree bred by Hillier Nurseries specifically for urban environments as a part of our ‘Streetwise’ range. With its fast growth, strong form, and clean habit, it’s an ideal tree for cities, avenues, and car parks.

Selected in 1980 on our very own Hillier fields, Tilia cordata ‘Streetwise’ stood out for its clean, ascending branches and uniform, robust structure. As it matured, its vigour, dark foliage, and resistance to common pests made it a clear standout. These traits remained consistent through to maturity, leading to its formal introduction in the early 2000s.

Compared to similar varieties such as Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’, Streetwise demonstrates stronger branching unions, deeper green foliage, and a notably faster growth rate. These qualities make it a favourite among landscape architects and local authorities seeking reliable, low-maintenance trees for high-traffic areas.

A major benefit of Tilia cordata ‘Streetwise’ is that it’s virtually aphid-free, which means no sticky honeydew, a common issue with many lime trees. Its fragrant summer flowers are a magnet for bees and pollinators, while its tidy crown and upright shape make it easy to manage in confined spaces.

This clone of the small-leaved lime is well-suited to a wide range of soil conditions and shows excellent tolerance to air pollution and urban stress. Its reliable performance and outstanding form also earned it a special endorsement from former Hillier Trees Director, Hossein Arshadi.

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Size

Medium/Large

10m high x 4m wide after 25 years

Environment

Ideal for urban settings, it makes a fantastic tree for street and avenue planting. It is equally impressive in carparks.

Canopy

Neat form with dominant leader and well-balanced crown.

Foliage

Heart shaped, dark green leaves. Aphid-free.

Clonal

Selected on our nurseries in 1980 by its ‘well-behaved’ characteristics, ascending branches and even, robust branch structure. These coupled with a very healthy vigour set it apart from other seedlings. As the years progressed, these beneficial characteristics continued through to maturity and so it was introduced, formally to our range over the millennium.

Flowers

Produces fragrant ivory flowers in late July.

Available As:

Semi-Mature, Super Semi-Mature

FAQs

What is Tilia cordata ‘Streetwise’?

Tilia cordata ‘Streetwise’ is a cultivar of the small-leaved lime, specifically bred by Hillier Nurseries for urban environments. It has a strong upright form, even branching, and excellent resistance to urban stressors like pollution and compacted soils.

How large does Tilia cordata ‘Streetwise’ grow?

It typically grows to around 12–15 metres in height, with a neat, upright canopy. This makes it suitable for avenue planting, wide verges, and structured green infrastructure projects.

What are the ideal planting conditions for Streetwise lime trees?

Tilia cordata ‘Streetwise’ thrives in fertile, well-drained soil but is also highly adaptable. It tolerates pollution, compacted soil, and varying light conditions, making it perfect for urban settings.