Kaditz Lime Tree, Natural monument in Kaditz, Dresden, Germany

The Kaditz Lime Tree is a large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) about 20 metres tall with a trunk girth of roughly 9 to 10 metres, standing on the churchyard of Emmaus Church in Kaditz, Dresden. Since the 1818 fire split it, the trunk has formed two separate stems and a growth pattern that compensates for the damage. Its crown spans much of the 5,400-square-metre cemetery, and a few metres away stands the Schulmeisterlinde, planted in 1622.

A major fire in 1818 severely damaged the tree and split its trunk into two parts, permanently altering its growth pattern. This traumatic event led to an unusual form of healing and regrowth.

The tree is said to have served as a pillory in the Middle Ages, and it was also known as a court lime. In the Thirty Years' War, Swedish troops camped beneath its crown. A few metres away stands the Schulmeisterlinde, planted in 1622 according to the church register and considered Dresden's oldest memorial tree.

Access to the tree is through the cemetery, which is easily reached near the church. Visitors should keep in mind this is a protected space where quiet behavior is expected.

The hollow interior of the split trunk was spacious enough to accommodate people who performed music inside during earlier centuries. This unusual feature turned the tree into a social gathering point that went beyond its botanical role.