Silver Lime (Tilia Tomentosa)
Other names: Silver linden, European white lime
Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)
The silver linden, or Tilia Tomentosa, is a tree that is also known as the felt linden, silver linden or European white lime. It is an important species of tree in the Malvaceae family. It is native to southern and eastern Europe and western Asia, but is now widespread throughout the world. The silver lime is a large deciduous tree that can reach up to 35 metres depending on its habitat and age. Its leaves are covered on the reverse side with a white-grey felty coating that resists air pollution very well, making it a tree species that can be found in urban environments. The silver linden is also an important honey-bearing plant, boasting beautiful flowers with a distinctive and pleasant scent.
Products using silver lime are diverse. One of the best known is linden tea, which is used for both its flavour and medicinal properties. The use of silver lime flowers in perfumery is also unusual, where they are used for their unique and alluring scent. Silver lime wood is used in joinery and carving because it is of high quality, fine-grained and easy to work with. Silver linden is also often planted as an ornamental tree in parks and public spaces. Honey products, for which this lime tree is essential, are also very popular. Its flowers produce a very specific honey with a unique taste and aroma.