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Tilia mongolica

Tilia mongolica

Mongolian Lime

Description

Tilia mongolica (Mongolian lime) comes from Mongolia and China where it grows on wooded mountainsides in a continental climate together with, amongst others, Phellodendron amurense, Carpinus cordata and Maackia amurensis. The tree was discovered by Polish-Russian biologist and explorer Nikolaj Przewalski and described in 1880 by Russian botanist Carl Maximowicz. In its native habitat this slow-growing lime can attain a height of 25 metres; in cultivation the height is restricted to ten metres although older and taller trees are known to exist. Tilia mongolica forms a semi-open, broadly egg-shaped to round crown approximately eight metres wide.

The Mongolian lime is easily discernible by its decoratively deeply cut leaf which in terms of form is similar to a grape leaf, albeit a lot smaller. The glossy, leathery foliage emerges red, changes to green with a blue-green underside and in the autumn the tree has deep yellow autumn foliage. The warmer the summer has been, the more intense the autumn colours. In July, Tilia mongolica bears conspicuous, cream-white inflorescences held erect above the leaves. Bees and other insects love it! After flowering small, oval nuts appear which stay on the tree until late in the autumn. Young Mongolian limes have a grey, smooth bark which peels in oblong strips as the tree matures. 

Tilia mongolica can withstand drought and shade, is very hardy and also not affected by infestations of lice. This lime has brittle branches which can break in high winds and so a sheltered site is important. The Mongolian lime is found on more acid brown forest soils but adapts reasonably well to most kinds of soil and even grows on scree in its native habitat. Tilia mongolica is ideal for use in parks and gardens, cultivar ‘Buda’ is also good for urban planting in paved areas.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees multi-stemmed trees shade trees

Use

Location

park central reservation large garden cemetery traffic areas, industrial zones

Pavement

none none

Characteristics

Crown shape

rounded rounded wide egg-shaped wide egg-shaped

Crown structure

semi-open semi-open

Height

8 - 10 m

Width

6 - 8 m

Winter hardiness zone

6A - 8A

Aspects

Wind

intolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay peaty light clay sand loamy soil all soils

Nutrient level

moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

moist

Light requirements

sun

pH range

acidic neutral alkaline

Host plant/forage plant

bees butterflies

Extreme environments

tolerant to dryness tolerates air pollution

Get to know Ebben Nurseries

Visit our nurseries with multi-stem trees, climbing trees, trees for avenues and parks characteristic trees and solitary shrubs.

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Place order or further information?

Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Tilia mongolica? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
Our planting advisors

Photos

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Seasonal colours

Tilia mongolica seizoenskleur
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Flowers

Flowers

corymbose striking pendulous strongly scented

Flower colour

cream-white

Flowering period

July

Leaves

Leaf colour

buds red green underside blue-green

Leaves

deciduous cordate small dissected dentate lobate

Autumn colour

golden yellow

Fruits

Fruit colour

grey-green

Fruits

discrete nut

Bark

Bark colour

grey-brown

Bark

slightly furrowed

Twigs

Twig colour

red-brown

Twigs

bare pendulous

Root system

Root system

deep extensive fine roots central root

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Geographic location
Winter hardiness zone
OK
Coastal area
OK
Use
Location
OK
Pavement
OK
Host plant/forage plant
OK
Planting concepts
OK
Types of planting
Tree types
OK
Multi-stemmed trees
OK
Crown structure
OK
Crown shape
OK
Topiary on stem
OK
Topiary
OK
Height
m
-
m
OK
Width
m
-
m
OK
Aspects
Wind
OK
Soil
OK
Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
OK
Light requirements
OK
PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
-
December
OK
Flower colour
OK
Leaf colour
OK
Autumn colour
OK
Fruit colour
OK
Bark colour
OK
Special features
OK
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