Tilia oliveri aka Oliver's Lime

Tilia oliveri, or Chinese white lime, is a deciduous tree. It belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its native range covers central and east-central China. It grows in moist woods and mixed or evergreen forests. This is a tree of temperate regions, not a British native.

The tree forms a broad crown with spreading branches. The RHS describes trees about 49 feet [15 metres] tall. Its size categories exceed 39 feet [12 metres] in height. Spread can exceed 26 feet [8 metres]. Trees take 20–50 years to reach their full size. The leaves are broad and rounded, with sharp tips. Fine teeth line their edges. Their dark green upper faces contrast with silvery-white undersides. The tree sheds its leaves each year.

Pale yellow flowers hang in clusters in midsummer. Each cluster holds six to ten scented blooms. Its broad crown suits parks and very large gardens. It can also form the canopy of a woodland garden. The RHS suggests it for wildlife gardens and bold structural planting. Allow room for its mature height and spread. Its size makes it a poor fit for small spaces.

Grow it in sun or partial shade, away from cold winds. It needs moist soil that drains well. Suitable soils include chalk, clay, loam and sand. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline conditions. The RHS rates its hardiness as H6. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. Seed propagation calls for cold treatment before spring sowing. Chip budding offers another method, though rootstock choice needs care.

The RHS says this lime often avoids aphids and sticky honeydew. Yet it also lists aphids among possible pests. Scale insects, caterpillars, sawflies and gall mites may attack it too. Possible diseases include sooty mould, Phytophthora root rot and honey fungus. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards. It records young leaves as food, either raw or cooked. Ground fruit and flowers can form a chocolate substitute. That paste spoils quickly, which has limited its use. The flowers also have a recorded use in herbal tea. Traditional uses include easing spasms, promoting sweating and aiding calm. Tough inner bark yields fibre for mats, shoes and coarse cloth. Plants For A Future does not flag the tree as weedy.