It is said to be a relatively small lime with great autumn colour according to the books, with several cultivars available in the trade. It grows quite slowly at first, however the TROBI champion in Yorkshire is about 20 m high, twice the height mentioned in many catalogues (not Burncoose). The smaller branches are quite densely packed and the overall shape of the tree is rounded or oval. The mature leaves resemble (to me) birches from their shape, colour and texture all together, while the young leaves emerge bronze, reportedly quite attractive. It flowers quite early, and is said to be bee-attractive. However it may not be attractive to aphids, and may be honeydew free.
The yellow autumn colour is really good, and has therefore been used in the hybrid with the small-leaved lime, 'Autumn Harvest'.
It was discovered by Pere David in 1864 and brought to Europe in the late 19th century, seed being sent to Paris in 1880, and the Arnold Arboretum in 1882 and is now grown in quite a few situations. Its native habitat is in Mongolia, Eastern Russia and Northern China, at about 1,000 m, the altitude of Snowdon. It is an extremely cold-hardy tree, tolerating minus 20 C.
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