Side by side
Handkerchief tree or large-leaved lime? How to tell them apart
Davidia involucrata · Tilia platyphyllos
How to tell them apart – handkerchief tree: in May large white bracts hang beneath the branches like handkerchiefs, broadly heart-shaped, toothed leaves; large-leaved lime: lopsided heart-shaped, more finely toothed leaf and fragrant yellow flower clusters on a narrow bract.
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How do you recognise them?
- Handkerchief tree
- In May large white bracts hang beneath the branches like handkerchiefs; broadly heart-shaped, toothed leaves.
- Large-leaved lime
- Large, lopsided heart-shaped leaf with a softly hairy underside and white tufts of hair in the vein axils.
- Compared with handkerchief tree: lopsided heart-shaped, more finely toothed leaf and fragrant yellow flower clusters on a narrow bract.
| Handkerchief tree | Large-leaved lime | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, 8–15 cm, broadly oval to heart-shaped with a long pointed tip, coarsely and sharply toothed; underside usually hairy. | Alternate, lopsided heart-shaped, 6–15 cm, finely toothed. Underside light green and softly hairy all over, with white tufts of hair in the vein axils. |
| Flowering | A round head of purple stamens between two unequal, creamy-white bracts 10–20 cm long, in May (May). | Clusters of 2–5 fragrant yellow flowers on a tongue-shaped bract, in late June (June). |
| Fruit | Hanging, green to purplish-brown drupes 3–4 cm long with a hard, ridged stone. | Hard, globular nutlets with 5 distinct ribs. |
| Bark | Orange-brown to grey-brown, in small flakes. | Grey, finely fissured. Young twigs hairy. |
| Shape and height | Broadleaf tree, 10–15 m | Broadleaf tree, 25–35 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | Yes |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | November–March | November–March |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Large-leaved lime is native: it feeds more insects and birds than a non-native species. If in doubt, choose this one.
- Large-leaved lime grows 25–35 m tall: too big for an ordinary garden, but fine in a large garden, a park or a meadow.
Read on
- Plant profile: Handkerchief tree
- Plant profile: Large-leaved lime
- Handkerchief tree: when and how to prune
- Large-leaved lime: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
- Large-leaved lime or small-leaved lime
- Katsura tree or handkerchief tree
- Hazel or large-leaved lime
- Common lime or large-leaved lime
- Indian bean tree or large-leaved lime
- Silver lime or large-leaved lime
- Large-leaved lime or black mulberry
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.