Tilia cordata is a species of deciduous broadleaf flowering plants (in the Malvaceae or Mallow family), native to Britain, Europe, western Asia and northern Iran. The tree can grow to about 30 metres tall, with a rounded or pyramidal shape, often with a surrounding of shoots growing from the base of the trunk. It has red buds in winter. Its leaves are finely toothed and heart-shaped, dark green above with a paler underside. In late June and early July it has small light yellow-green fragrant flowers in bunches of 5–10; they are attractive to bees and important for honey production. Lime flowers can also be used to make herbal tea (lime tea or linden tea, unrelated to citrus lime, which is genus Citrus). As in all Tilia species, the flowers are accompanied by long ribbon-shaped leaves (bracts), which become noticeable in summer because they turn yellow earlier than the other leaves; nonetheless, they persist on the tree into autumn, along with the clusters of small round dry fruit.

Tilia cordata is one of the three native Tilia (lime or linden) species (all present in Whiteknights Park). It can be distinguished by the tendency of its flowers to grow sideways or upwards, so that they are clearly visible above the leaves, whereas in the other species (Tilia platyphyllos and Tilia × europaea) all the flowers hang below the leaves. Also, the leaves are somewhat smaller, and their underside is hairless except for tufts of light red hairs near to the major veins.

Tilia cordata naturally grows in the forest understorey, but it is no longer common in British woods except in ancient ones. Traditionally it was cut back to the stump (the practice called "coppicing") to encourage rapid regrowth of many stems for firewood and poles (including Morris-dancing sticks). If this process is repeated a single tree, defined by its root system (since it does not have a single trunk), can live for centuries; one at the National Arboretum at Westonbirt is more than 2000 years old. The wood is white, finely-grained and soft, not strong but resistant to splitting and warping, and is used for wood carving, furniture and musical instruments.

In folklore across Europe limes are associated with fertility, justice, romance and liberty. In Germanic and Norse countries, it was the favourite tree of Freya, the goddess of love. Tilia cordata is widely planted along streets, in gardens, and in public landscapes.

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