Siberian Elm

Ulmus pumila

Ulmaceae (Elm Family)

▲ seedlings

 

▲ immature tree that has likely been cut back a few times

▲▼ mature landscape trees, showing bark discoloration common from wetwood

▲ leaves

Location on campus:  near northeast corner of Greenwood Lab School

Ulmus pumila: Siberian Elm

· leaves deciduous, alternate, simple, ovate, doubly serrate with pointed tip; dark green and smooth above, lighter underneath; leaves may fall green from tree in late fall

· stems slender, light gray, brittle, glabrous; buds are small, rounded, dark brown

· bark is gray-brown, deeply fissured with raised platey ridges; often discolored due to bleeding sap from wetwood disease; wood is weak and very prone to ice and wind breakage

· fruit is a round samara

· grows 50-70' tall and 2/3 to equally wide in open to rounded, often irregular after storm breakage, habit

· prefers full sun and is very soil tolerant; becomes an urban and suburban weed tree

· fast growth rate

· resistant to Dutch Elm disease

· is a medium-sized tree introduced from Eurasia as a replacement for American Elm when Dutch Elm disease killed many American Elms; Siberian elm is resistant to this disease

· commonly planted 30-50 years ago, now seedlings escape to germinate and grow in old pastures, open woods, disturbed urban areas (crack in concrete); may hybridize with native slippery elms

·   many call this tree “Chinese elm,” but true Chinese elm is a different, less invasive species (although some are saying true Chinese elm is invasive in certain locations as well)