Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’

Originally this was a Dutch selection of the species. It is a large tree (over 20 metres, 60 feet high) with a upright branches, and a broadly conical crown. It is very uniform in its growth and lends itself to be planted as an avenue or a specimen tree.

The leaves are on short leaf stalks so the canopy is compact and dense. The large, round, toothed leaves are dark green on their topside and silvery-white and felt-like beneath. The leaves are tough and as a result, are not attractive to aphids, so there is not a honeydew problem associated with this variety. When subjected to heat reflected from surrounding surfaces, the tree responds by curling its leaves, exposing their silvery undersides to reflect the heat away from the tree. This makes it a fantastic choice for planting in close proximity to infrastructure and within urban environments.

Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’ exhibits exceptional hardiness, tolerating most soil conditions and displaying robust drought tolerance once established. It handles windy environments well, including coastal regions, which is why it is highly rated as a strong urban tree. Additionally, its fragrant blossoms make it highly appealing to a variety of insects.