A hybrid between small-leaved and large-leaved lime, common lime has characteristics of both species. The bark is pale grey-brown and irregularly ridged, with characteristic large burrs and leaf shoots at the base of the tree. Twigs are slender and brown, although they become red in the sun.

Large-leaved lime is the rarest of our native limes and is only subtly different from small-leaved lime. The bark is darker than that of small-leaved lime, and smooth, developing flaky plates with age. Twigs are grey-green in the shade but look reddish in sunlight.

Buds and bark. Buds alternate along the shoots, and have a red tinge to them. The bark is somewhat grey, with darker grey fissures. The inner bark is a rich source of fibres and archaeological digs have shown that lime tree fibre was used in clothing and rope making in neolithic times. Lime wood is much used / desired in wood carving or turning.

Ancient Common Lime within the avenue at Bifrons Park, Kent, UK. Image Owen Johnson. Tree to 45 m, dbh 3 m. Trunk often with epicormic sprouts. Bark grey-brown, with irregular knobbly ridges after about 30 years. Twigs red in sun during winter, becoming glabrous. Buds with 2 or 3 visible scales, more or less glabrous.

This large deciduous tree can grow to more than 20m high. Its bark is grey-brown and smooth and develops flaky plates with age. The twigs are brown-red in the shade, but become shiny in sunlight. Small-leaved lime may produce suckers from the base of the tree.

The bark of mature Large-leaved lime trees is a pale grey-brown colour and has irregularly ridges. Typically the bole of Large-leaved Lime is quite clean and tidy compared to the Common Lime and the Small-leaved Lime.

The bark of mature Common lime trees is a pale grey-brown colour and has irregularly ridges. They are deeper at the base of the tree and quite often accompanied by a cluster of suckers. Some Common lime trees have no suckers at the base and some are covered in them so suckering at the base is not a reliable method of identiciation.

Apr 13, 2021 · Stems/Bark. Young trees have grey/brown smooth bark which becomes more gnarled over time. Suckers or side shoots are common around the base of the trunk.

Younger trees have quite a smooth grey bark which can become craggy and gnarled. Suckers or shoots grow from around the base and higher up the trunk on many specimens and can aid identification from afar.

The grey-brown bark of common lime is irregularly ridged. It readily undergoes epicormic growth spurts (produces suckers) so has a large amount of these visible at its base. This can form a dense ball of shoots at the base of the tree. Burrs are often found on the trunk too.