Tilia Tuan

Tilia tuan is an uncommon Chinese lime forming a tall, broad-crowned deciduous tree. Large heart-shaped leaves are dark or grey-green above and softly grey-hairy beneath, creating a silvery effect when moved by wind. Compact summer clusters of fragrant yellow flowers hang on long stalks and attract bees before developing into winged fruits. Native to a wide area of central and south-western China, the species has considerable botanical variation and remains seldom planted in Britain. It makes a distinguished specimen for a park or very large sheltered garden.