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Small Leaf Elm Ulmus alata

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ULM-us a-LAY-tuh
Description

Winged elm is a woody, deciduous tree in the elm family (Ulmaceae). It is native to eastern and central North America. Winged Elm grows 40 to 60 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide. 

It prefers full to partial sun and moist soil with good drainage. It tolerates different soil types, including those that contain loam, clay, sand or rocky material and is not particular about soil pH. The fertility of the soil and moisture determine the ultimate size of this tree. Regularly prune young trees to eliminate multiple trunks. It is propagated by seed. 

This elm is valuable to wildlife as a source of food, nesting and habitat. When grown in an open site, it has a short bole (the trunk below the crown) and branches arching upward to form a rounded crown. In a forested site, the tree tends to grow taller and straighter. The heavy wood is used for furniture, crates and boxes.

Landscape uses for winged elm include woodlands and naturalized areas, shade trees or street trees, and butterfly, native, pollinator and winter gardens. In fall, the leaves turn yellow.

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Insect problems include beetles, borers, caterpillars, leaf miners, and scale. Particularly susceptible to Dutch Elm disease (a fatal fungal disease spread by beetles with no effective cure), powdery mildew, phloem necrosis, cankers, and leaf spots can be problems, especially on stressed trees.

 VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Lace Parasol'
'Lace Parasol'
Tags:
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Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Lace Parasol'
'Lace Parasol'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#shade tree#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#red-brown#large tree#slow growing#native tree#dark green#green flowers#piedmont#shade garden#woody#low maintenance#spring flowers#winter interest#gray bark#fall interest#flowering tree#air pollution tolerant#showy fruits#small mammals#moist soil#fire low flammability#NC native#well-drained soil#rich soils#deer resistant#small and large mammals#fields#native garden#small flowers#mountains#clusters#drupes#mourning cloak butterflies#rounded#disturbed areas#spring interest#pollinator plant#black fruits#Braham Arboretum#fantz#flowers early spring#larval host plant#deciduous tree#green leaves#FACU#food source spring#exfoliating bark#food source herbage#fall color yellow#wet soils tolerant#loamy soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#rough leaves#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#fall color bronze#winter flowers#winter garden#partial shade tolerant#flowers late winter#Audubon#red-spotted purple butterfly#question mark butterfly#painted lady butterfly#eastern comma butterfly#coastal plant#wildlife friendly#woodland#hs303
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ulmus
    Species:
    alata
    Family:
    Ulmaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The heavy wood is used for furniture, crates, and boxes.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern and central North America
    Distribution:
    Southeastern United States, Virginia to Florida, west to Illinois, Missouri, and Texas.
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports the following larvae: Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis). Questionmark butterflies have an interesting life cycles: overwintered adult Question Mark butterflies lay eggs from spring until the end of May. These will appear as summer adults from May-September, laying eggs that then develop into the winter adult form. The winter adults appear in late August and shelter for the winter starting the cycle all over again. Adult Question Mark butterflies feed on rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and carrion only visiting flowers for feeding when absolutely necessary. Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) rarely use this host plant in North Carolina. It is also a host plant for the Red Spotted Purple butterflies. The seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals.
    Play Value:
    Shade
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Wildlife Nesting
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Resistant to fire and moderately resistant to damage from deer.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Open
    Pyramidal
    Rounded
    Vase
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Samara
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Small drupe but very distinctive, covered with light colored fuzz, 1/3 inch long, tipped at the end with two long, curving bristles. The seeds mature in April-May as the leaves reach full size. In North Carolina, fruits are available from March to April.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Insignificant, 1/4 inch, brownish-green flowers appear in clusters in late winter to early spring before the foliage emerges. The flower is typically very small with curling fuzzy stigmas. In North Carolina, flowers are available from February to March.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Dentate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate, ovate to elliptic, pointed, rough-textured dark green leaves (1.5 to 3.5 inches long) with doubly toothed margins and asymetrical bases. The leaves typically turn an undistinguished dull yellowish-green in fall.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Light Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Fissured
    Shredding
    Bark Plate Shape:
    Irregular
    Bark Description:
    The bark is red-brown to ashy gray with flat topped ridges that are separated by irregular fissures. Scaly, shredding, patchy and grayish-brown, some reddish where bark exfoliates.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Corky Ridges
    Stem Description:
    Stems usually have two wide corky ridges or wings.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Dry Soil
    Fire
    Wet Soil