Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’

Tree Information

Specialities

Tolerances

Wet Soil: Low

Dry Soil: High

Lime: Medium

Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’, commonly known as Silver Lime, is a robust, fast growing tree selected in the Netherlands. Known for its upright, uniform structure and broadly conical crown, it reaches heights of over 20 metres, making it a perfect choice for avenues, streetscapes, and public green spaces.

Its large, round leaves have dark green upper surfaces and silvery-white, felted undersides. These leaves naturally curl during hot weather, exposing their pale undersides to reflect sunlight, an adaptation that makes Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’ particularly well suited for heat affected urban environments. The short leaf stalks create a dense canopy, yet the tree remains unattractive to aphids, reducing the risk of honeydew-related issues common in other lime varieties.

Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’ is valued in public planting schemes for its resilience to wind, drought, urban pollution, and compacted soils. Its fragrant summer blossoms attract bees and other pollinators, offering strong biodiversity benefits and supporting community engagement with nature.

Visit our Useful Resources for in-depth guides

Discover guides to help you with specifying your trees, caring for your trees and understanding the weights and dimensions of trees.

Useful Resources

Size

Large

10m high x 6m wide after 25 years

Environment

Great for urban planting and makes a great avenue or street tree. Also good for coastal planting.

Canopy

Upright habit, crown is uniform and dense.

Foliage

Large, rounded, sharply toothed, dark green above with silvery-white undersides. Yellow autumn colour. Aphid free.

Flowers

Flowers appear in summer and are fragrant and yellow.

Fruit

Small round fruits that are green to grey in colour.

Resilience

Suitable for all soil types, including clay, sand and loam. Will tolerate wind, frost and paved areas.

Wildlife

Fragrant flowers attract many insects and are great for bees and butterflies.

Available As:

Semi-Mature, Super Semi-Mature

FAQs

Does Tilia tomentosa 'Brabant' attract aphids or produce honeydew?

Unlike other lime trees, ‘Brabant’ is unattractive to aphids. This greatly reduces the risk of sticky honeydew deposits, making it a cleaner choice for public spaces and parked cars.

Is Silver Lime good for wildlife?

Yes, its fragrant summer flowers are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators. Its resilience and flowering season contribute positively to local biodiversity.

What soil and light conditions does 'Brabant' prefer?

It grows well in full sun to partial shade and adapts to a wide range of soils, including clay and compacted urban ground. It’s also highly tolerant of drought once established.