Van den Berk on their best drip-free lime trees

Lime trees are good city trees that offer high biodiversity, as well as being good at withstanding climate change. This makes them a popular choice in urban environments. However, the lime-tree aphid, a common pest found on many Tilia species, can give rise to problems. The aphids’ sticky honeydew secretions can cause a nuisance if they drip onto street furniture or parked cars.
The best guarantee against nuisance caused by aphids and the formation of sooty mould is to choose the right species in the first place.

Especially for urban planners, BALI Registered Affiliate member Van den Berk have drawn on their experiences of various species of Tilia to produce a list of species that in most conditions are not susceptible to aphids.

Tilia tomentosa cultivars

The silver lime is resistant to aphid damage thanks to its hairy leaves. These cultivars, which grow rather more uniformly than the species in general, are highly suited to avenues and broad streets because they are capable of withstanding pavements. Like all Tilia species, Tilia tomentosa is a good tree for bees. The tree blooms in June, producing pale yellow bunches of flowers. These highly fragrant flowers offer a rich source of pollen to bees and other pollinators. The silver lime is good at withstanding drought, making it the ideal choice for the cities of the future.

Tilia x flavescens ‘Glenleven’

This Canadian cultivar of Tilia x flavescens grows very fast in its first few years, but as it gets older, its growth becomes less vigorous. The tree reaches a height of 18 to 25 metres and a breadth of roughly 15 metres. Tilia x flavescens ‘Glenleven’ is suitable for all soil types and is good at withstanding the heat of the urban environment. ‘Glenleven’ is ideal for avenues and broad streets and its foliage remains green until late in the summer. The leaf also remains on the tree long into autumn.

Tilia heterophylla ‘Prestige’

This cultivar, originally from the United States, reaches a height of 12 to 15 metres. The leaf is large, ovate and glossy dark green. This lime tree is comparable to Tilia americana species when it comes to the size of its leaf and the vigorousness of its growth, but ultimately its crown will remain smaller: a 15-metre tall tree will have a crown roughly 6 metres wide. This tree is suitable as an avenue or street tree, can be planted in all soil types and is good at withstanding wind. Although it was introduced in 1976, Tilia heterophyla ‘Prestige’ remains relatively unknown. Van den Berk Nurseries began breeding it in 2008. Thanks to the good quality of the tree, new batches are planted every year.

Tilia cordata ‘Savaria’

This is a Hungarian selection of small-leaved lime or winter linden. It is a healthy tree with a uniform crown. Tilia cordata ‘Savaria’ reaches a height of around 20 metres and ultimately grows to a breadth of up to 10 metres. The tree blooms in June and July and its flowers have a strong fragrance. Tilia cordata ‘Savaria’ is resistant to drought, wind and coastal wind. The leaf is firmer and thicker than the leaf of Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’, making it less susceptible to aphids and other forms of leaf damage.

Tilia mongolica ‘Buda’

This is another Hungarian selection. Tilia mongolica ‘Buda’ only recently came onto the market, but it holds great promise. It is a variety of the slow-growing Tilia mongolica, but grows faster and has a bigger, shiny leaf. The tree has a pyramidal crown with decorative hanging reddish-brown twigs. Its leaf is roughly serrated and dark green. This lime tree is ideal as an avenue and street tree and is aphid-free.

Tilia henryana

This exceptionally decorative lime tree blooms late in the season, from July to September, making it highly popular with bees. This species occurs naturally in central China, where it often grows as a shrub or a medium-sized tree to reach a height of up to 15 metres. It takes a long time to reach that size because Tilia henryana is a slow grower. The leaf of Tilia henryana is wonderfully decorative: it is densely covered with silver-coloured stellate hairs and turns a shiny dark green later in the season. Tilia henryana can be planted in parks, tree containers, graveyards, roof terraces and large or small gardens. It is absolutely aphid-resistant, but its slow growth and round, half-open crown make it less suitable as an avenue tree.

Tilia (americana) ‘Neglect’

This lime tree was taken into cultivation at Van den Berk Nurseries in 1990. It is sizeable tree that can reach a height of 25 to 30 metres. The crown is ovate, as is the leaf, which grows to between 15 and 22 centimetres long and is dark green. Tilia (americana) ‘Neglect’ is a tree with few demands, but will not thrive in extremely dry soil. This tree does not suffer from aphid problems.