Is lime flower related to the citrus lime?

No. It comes from the lime or linden tree, which is unrelated to the citrus fruit.

Is lime flower the same as linden?

Yes. Linden is the North American name for the same group of trees, and tilleul is the French one.

Will lime flower tea help me sleep?

Some people find it a soothing part of an evening routine. There are no clinical trials that show it changes sleep, so I would regard it as one part of a routine and not as a fix.

Can I give lime flower tea to children?

The monograph does not recommend use for mental stress under 12, and for colds it does not recommend use under 4. For anything beyond that, please speak to a GP or health visitor.

Is lime flower safe in pregnancy?

Safety is not established, so the monograph does not recommend it without sufficient data. The EarthWise guidance advises against Sleep Deep in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Lime Flower: What It Is, How It Works, and When to Use It

Sarah Burt

Oct 14

5 min read

Lime flower (Tilia species), also called linden or tilleul, is the pale, sweetly scented blossom of the lime tree. It has been made into a soothing tea across Europe for centuries, and it is traditionally used for common colds and for mild mental stress. It is a gentle herb with an unusually clean paper record and almost no clinical research. It is one of the six herbs in the EarthWise Sleep Deep tonic.

Close-up of a Lime Flower with orange stamens and a purple bud among glossy green leaves against a bright background

What it is

The lime tree, known as linden in North America, is not related to the citrus lime. The trees most used in herbal medicine are the small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), the large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) and their hybrid, the common lime (Tilia x vulgaris). They are tall, long-lived trees, common in British parks, avenues and churchyards, with heart-shaped leaves. In midsummer, the trees produce clusters of small, pale yellow flowers attached to a papery, leaf-like bract, and the scent carries a long way on a warm evening.

The part used is the flower together with its bract, picked as the flowers open and dried. Lime blossom tea is a classic of French home medicine, where it is known as tilleul and is drunk in the evening. I regard that history as context and not as evidence.

A buyer's note worth reading. Check that the label names the flowers and bracts and gives the Latin name. The bract is part of the traditional herb, so its presence is normal. Dried lime flower loses its scent quickly, so a tea that smells of nothing has probably been on the shelf too long.

The active compounds

Lime flower contains flavonoids, such as quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, together with mucilage, phenolic acids, tannins and a small amount of volatile oil, which includes farnesol and contributes to the scent.

The main proposed mechanism. The mucilage is thought to account for the soothing effect on the throat. The flavonoids and volatile oil have been studied in laboratory and animal work for calming effects. These are cell and animal findings, and I know of no good evidence for how they translate to a person drinking the tea.

How it is traditionally used

The EU herbal committee (HMPC) adopted a monograph on lime flower in 2012. It covers the three species above and recognises lime flower as a traditional herbal medicine for two uses:

the relief of common cold symptoms
the relief of mild symptoms of mental stress

As a traditional-use monograph, it rests on long-standing use and not on clinical trials. For adolescents, adults and the elderly, the monograph gives a herbal tea of 1.5 g of herb in 150 ml of boiling water, two to four times a day, and a tincture (1:5 in 45% ethanol) of 1 ml once or twice a day. It advises seeing a doctor or qualified practitioner if cold symptoms last more than a week, or if the mental stress symptoms persist.

Use for mental stress is not recommended under 12, and use for colds is not recommended under 4. The only contraindication is hypersensitivity to the plant. The monograph reports no known adverse reactions, no interactions and no cases of overdose. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, so it does not recommend use.

In Western herbal practice, lime flower is a gentle nervine and a traditional herb for evening use, often combined with other calming herbs, which is how it appears in Sleep Deep alongside Passionflower, Valerian, Lemon Balm, Hops and Lavender.

Sarah's clinical perspective

I use lime flower in Sleep Deep as a tincture alongside Passionflower, Valerian, Lemon Balm, Hops and Lavender. It is one of the gentler herbs in that formula and supports the wind-down side of the picture.

I am careful with anyone taking prescribed sedatives, sleeping tablets or antidepressants, and I advise against combining the formula with alcohol. Sleep Deep as a whole can cause drowsiness, so I ask people to avoid driving or operating machinery until they know how it affects them.

Practical guidance

Dose. The EU monograph gives traditional adult amounts of 1.5 g of herb as a tea two to four times a day, or 1 ml of a 1:5 tincture in 45% ethanol once or twice a day. These are traditional amounts, and they are not a dosing instruction for any particular product, including Sleep Deep.

Format. A tea of the dried flowers is the traditional form, and a pleasant one. Cover the cup while it steeps for about ten minutes. A tincture is a practical alternative.

Time to effect. There is no clinical timeline. For anything persistent, I would give it a couple of weeks and then review with a practitioner.

Timing. In the evening as part of a wind-down routine, which is the traditional use. At the first signs of a cold, if you are using it for that.

What it does not replace. Lime flower does not replace a proper approach to sleep, and it does not replace medical advice for a cold that worsens. Difficulty breathing, a high fever or purulent sputum need a GP, as the monograph says.

For how to take the EarthWise tonic specifically, the dose and full safety information are on the product page.

Common questions

Is lime flower related to the citrus lime? No. It comes from the lime or linden tree, which is unrelated to the citrus fruit.
Is lime flower the same as linden? Yes. Linden is the North American name for the same group of trees, and tilleul is the French one.
Will lime flower tea help me sleep? Some people find it a soothing part of an evening routine. There are no clinical trials that show it changes sleep, so I would regard it as one part of a routine and not as a fix.
Can I give lime flower tea to children? The monograph does not recommend use for mental stress under 12, and for colds it does not recommend use under 4. For anything beyond that, please speak to a GP or health visitor.
Is lime flower safe in pregnancy? Safety is not established, so the monograph does not recommend it without sufficient data. The EarthWise guidance advises against Sleep Deep in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Where lime flower appears in the EarthWise range

Lime flower is one of the six herbs in Sleep Deep, Sarah's formula for restless nights, where it sits with Passionflower, Valerian, Lemon Balm, Hops and Lavender.

If you are not sure which formula fits, the EarthWise health quiz is the best place to start. Full safety information is on each product page.

When to seek professional support

Lime flower is a mild herb with few known problems. Check with a practitioner first in these situations:

Allergy to lime or linden. The monograph's only contraindication is hypersensitivity to the plant.
Sedatives, sleeping tablets or antidepressants. This applies to Sleep Deep as a whole. Check with your GP or pharmacist.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Not recommended, as safety has not been established.
Cold symptoms that last more than a week, or worsen. Difficulty breathing, high fever or purulent sputum need a GP.
Persistent sleep problems or ongoing stress. These deserve proper assessment.
Children. Speak to a GP or health visitor before giving lime flower to a child.

Sarah Burt is a registered naturopath, medical herbalist and iridologist with 25+ years of clinical experience. All EarthWise tonics are formulated by Sarah based on her clinical protocols.

Looking to explore more ways to support your body naturally? Browse our video library or discover our full range of educational content

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any health condition. Always consult a qualified health practitioner before making changes to your health regimen.