Siberian Elm Ulmus pumila
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ULM-us POO-mil-uh
- Description
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Very adaptable tree, fast-growing and often grows in poor soils and withstands drought. It is resistant to Dutch elm disease and has been used to develop other elms with resistance. It is generally is considered a poor ornamental tree, mostly because of its weak branches, messy habit, and susceptibility to insect attack, especially leaf beetles.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The leaves often eaten by elm leaf beetle. Other problem insects include borers, leaf miners, sawflies, mealy bugs, caterpillars, and scale. It is resistant but not immune to Dutch elm disease and phloem necrosis. It suffers from various wilts, rots, and cankers. It can form large colonies with its copious seed formation and is considered invasive in some states. Consider native alternatives listed in the left hand column.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Chinkota'
Seed-produced line of extra cold-hardy trees. - 'Coolshade'
Resistance to limb breakage during storms - 'Improved Coolshade'
Drought tolerant, hardy, resistant to limb breakage - 'Lincoln'
Resistant to Dutch elm disease - 'Morton Plainsman' (Vanguard™)-
Good disease resistance and tolerance of harsh climatic and cultural situations - 'New Horizon' -
Resistance to Dutch elm disease and tolerance of harsh growing conditions - Pendula' -
Branches that show a more weeping habit
- 'Chinkota'
- 'Chinkota', 'Coolshade', 'Improved Coolshade', 'Lincoln', 'Morton Plainsman' (Vanguard™)-, 'New Horizon' -, Pendula' -
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Chinkota'
Seed-produced line of extra cold-hardy trees. - 'Coolshade'
Resistance to limb breakage during storms - 'Improved Coolshade'
Drought tolerant, hardy, resistant to limb breakage - 'Lincoln'
Resistant to Dutch elm disease - 'Morton Plainsman' (Vanguard™)-
Good disease resistance and tolerance of harsh climatic and cultural situations - 'New Horizon' -
Resistance to Dutch elm disease and tolerance of harsh growing conditions - Pendula' -
Branches that show a more weeping habit
- 'Chinkota'
- 'Chinkota', 'Coolshade', 'Improved Coolshade', 'Lincoln', 'Morton Plainsman' (Vanguard™)-, 'New Horizon' -, Pendula' -
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ulmus
- Species:
- pumila
- Family:
- Ulmaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia, Siberia
- Distribution:
- Most of the US, especially in the west and midwest.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- 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
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Round flat papery tan samara with 1 seed
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Flowers develop, in drooping clusters, in the spring. Unlike other Elms, they are perfect flowers and self-pollinate.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1-3 inch dark green leaves are oval to lanceolate and have yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The bark is a light gray-brown with irregular furrows and is often streaked with stains caused by bacterial wetwood
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are yellowish gray, glabrous or pubescent, unwinged and without a corky layer, with scattered lenticels. The round to oval winter buds dark brown to red-brown.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Messy
- Weak Wood
- Weedy
