Tilia cordata ‘Erecta’

Experience the elegant presence of Tilia cordata ‘Erecta’, the stunning Upright Small-Leaved Lime that brings exceptional architectural form, intoxicating summer fragrance, and space-efficient beauty to your garden with its distinctive columnar habit and sweetly scented flowers. This outstanding ornamental tree offers remarkable qualities—a naturally narrow, upright columnar form perfect for restricted spaces, avenues, and formal plantings where width is limited, masses of highly fragrant pale yellow-green flowers in midsummer that fill the garden with honey-sweet perfume and attract countless bees creating a delightful humming soundscape, attractive small heart-shaped leaves that create fine-textured foliage and cast light dappled shade, and beautiful golden-yellow autumn colour, making this one of the most elegant and versatile large trees for creating vertical accent, formal structure, and sensory delight in gardens, estates, and urban landscapes.

Throughout spring and summer, this captivating tree displays its characteristic small heart-shaped leaves measuring 3-7cm long with finely serrated edges and distinctive tufts of rusty-brown hairs in the vein axils on the undersides, creating dense, fine-textured foliage in glossy dark green. The naturally narrow, upright branching creates a distinctive columnar silhouette that remains compact and formal without pruning—typically reaching only 4-6m wide even at maturity whilst growing 15-20m tall. In late June and July, the tree becomes adorned with clusters of small pale yellow-green flowers, each cluster hanging gracefully from a distinctive pale green wing-like bract. The flowers release an intoxicating honey-sweet fragrance that fills the garden and attracts countless honeybees, bumblebees, and other pollinators—the humming of bees in a flowering lime is one of summer’s most delightful sounds. In autumn, the foliage transforms into warm shades of golden-yellow before falling, and small round nutlets develop, providing food for birds and wildlife.

Native to Europe including parts of Britain and Ireland, Tilia cordata is our native small-leaved lime, though ‘Erecta’ is a selected cultivar chosen for its exceptional narrow, upright form. The name ‘cordata’ means ‘heart-shaped’, referring to the distinctive leaf shape. Exceptionally hardy and adaptable, this lime thrives in British conditions, tolerating urban pollution, compacted soils, exposure, and a wide range of soil types whilst providing excellent wildlife value. The narrow form makes this ideal for restricted spaces, avenues, and formal plantings where traditional limes would be too wide. Unlike common lime (Tilia × europaea), this species produces minimal suckers and is less prone to aphid honeydew.

Create stunning compositions by planting as magnificent avenue trees where the uniform columnar habit creates dramatic formal impact—perfect for driveways, pathways, or street plantings. Exceptional as vertical accent specimens in large gardens, estates, or formal landscapes where height is desired without excessive width. Works beautifully flanking entrances, framing buildings, or creating formal allées. Magnificent in rows or grids for contemporary formal designs. Can be pleached to create elegant raised hedges or screens. The narrow form makes this ideal for urban gardens, courtyards, or restricted spaces where traditional large trees would overwhelm.

Planting: Space trees 5-6m apart for avenue plantings to allow the narrow crowns to just touch at maturity, or allow 6-8m for specimen placement. Plant bare-root trees from November to March, or container-grown specimens year-round (autumn or early spring is ideal). Dig holes twice the width of the root ball and incorporate generous amounts of organic matter. Plant at the same depth as the nursery soil mark. Stake securely for the first 3-5 years. Water thoroughly and mulch generously around the base, keeping mulch away from the trunk.

Soil Preparation: Thrives in moist, well-drained, fertile soil with pH 6.0-8.0. Tolerates a wide range of soil types including clay, loam, chalk, and moderately acidic to alkaline soils. Prefers deep, moisture-retentive, fertile conditions enriched with organic matter. Dislikes very dry, shallow, or waterlogged soils. Tolerates urban pollution and compacted soils better than most trees. Best growth and flowering occur in full sun with consistent moisture, though tolerates partial shade.

Container Growing: Not suitable for long-term container growing due to size, vigorous growth, and extensive root system. Young specimens can be grown temporarily in very large containers (minimum 80cm diameter) using soil-based compost for 2-3 years, but should be planted out for best long-term health, characteristic columnar form development, abundant flowering, and intoxicating fragrance.

Seasonal Care: Requires minimal pruning—the naturally narrow, upright form develops without intervention. Remove only dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter when dormant. Remove any low branches if desired to create clear trunk and showcase the columnar form. If pleaching, train and tie in branches to horizontal framework and prune twice yearly (winter and summer) to maintain formal shape. Apply slow-release balanced fertiliser in early spring. Mulch annually with organic matter to retain moisture. Water during dry spells, especially in the first 3-5 years until well established. Monitor for aphids in summer, though this species is less susceptible than common lime.

Propagation: Cannot be propagated from seed as this is a selected cultivar that will not come true from seed. Professional propagation is by grafting onto Tilia cordata rootstock. Softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings can be attempted but success is variable and requires specialist facilities. Home gardeners should purchase nursery-grown grafted specimens for guaranteed quality, reliable narrow columnar form, and characteristic growth habit.

This elegant beauty is absolutely magnificent—that naturally narrow, upright columnar form is perfect for restricted spaces and creates such dramatic formal impact in avenues! The intoxicating honey-sweet fragrance in midsummer is divine, and the humming of countless bees is pure summer magic. Those small heart-shaped leaves create fine-textured elegance, and the golden autumn colour is gorgeous. Space-efficient, formal, and sensory delight all in one stunning tree!