Scotch Elm Ulmus glabra
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ULM-us GLAY-bruh
- Description
-
Wych elm is a large shade tree that prefers organically rich, moist well-drained loamy soil in the full sun. It has a broad rounded crown and grows 70-100 ft tall. Unfortunatley it is susceptible to Dutch Elm disease and is no longer planted in this country. However there are still some specimens living in botanical gardens.
It is recommended to choose a less problematic native tree. See some listed to the left.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insects that bother this tree include beetles, borers, caterpillars, leaf miner, mealy bugs, and scale. This tree has frequent disease problems like Dutch elm disease, phloem necrosis, wet wood, cankers, wilts, rots.
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:
-
- 'Camperdownii'
Pendulous
'Horizontalis'
Weeping - 'Camperdownii'
- 'Camperdownii', 'Horizontalis'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Camperdownii'
Pendulous
'Horizontalis'
Weeping - 'Camperdownii'
- 'Camperdownii', 'Horizontalis'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ulmus
- Species:
- glabra
- Family:
- Ulmaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Western Asia
- Dimensions:
- Height: 70 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Flat, papert samara with 1 seed appear in spring to summer
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Reddish green non-showy flowers appear in early to mid spring before leaves.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green, rough leaves 3"-6" long. Simple, alternate, doubly dentate margins, oblong to elliptic with asymmetrical base and acuminate tip. Leaves turn yellow in the fall but the color is insignificant.
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-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- Bark gray, smooth, furrowed with age.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Description:
- Twigs ash-gray to red-brown. Bud scales overlap.
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-
Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
