Common Lime (Tilia europaea)

Edibility:Edible

Eating notes: The young leaves are edible as salad greens.
The flowers can be dried and used as a herbal tea.

The common Lime is actually a hybrid between two native species, the Small-Leaved Lime and the Large-Leaved Lime. It is commonly planted on road sides and parks.

Height: up to 40m

Leaves: Large and heart-shaped with a finely-serrated edge. Smooth on top with some downy hairs on the underside.

Flowers: Strongly perfumed yellow flowers growing in hanging clusters.

Stems: The Lime is a large tree with smooth brown bark.

Other: The lime attracts bees in huge numbers when in flower. It is also very attractive to aphids in the spring, resulting in anything under the tree being covered in honey-dew.