About
A compact, mat-forming, deciduous sub-shrub to about 30cm tall from Mediterranean and Himalayan mountain habitats with softly hairy, slightly felted (incanus) leaves and erect stems bearing solitary, funnel-shaped, pale to deep blue, five-lobed flowers in summer. A delicate and choice alpine for a sunny, sharply drained rock garden.
About the genus
Tilia are deciduous trees with broadly ovate or heart-shaped leaves and pendulous clusters of fragrant yellow-green flowers, followed by conspicuous winged fruits
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, Wildlife gardens
Native toChile
Fragrancenotable for being one of the largest-leaved
Toxicitymost vigorous
Care notes
CultivationSuitable for parks and very large gardens. Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade, with shelter from cold winds. For more advice see tree cultivation
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by seed, stratified in containers outdoors in spring. See propagate from seed (tree/shrub) 22342,iris-tenuis,Iris tenuis,,A variable
Pest resistancedeciduous
Disease resistancearching shrub from Valdivia