| General Description | A large deciduous tree with dark green leaves turning yellow and brown in the autumn. It has dark brown, deeply furrowed bark, and dark (almost black) buds. The tree produces dark pink/red perfect flowers that are about 2 cm long hang in tassels. The tree produces rounded samaras that are mostly sterile and therefore the tree reproduces primarily through suckers. |
| ID Characteristic | The tree produces dark pink/red flowers that hang in tassels as well as rounded samaras with papery wings. Leaves are dark green turning yellow/brown in autumn. The leaves are simple, alternate, ovate, doubly serrated, and acuminate. The bark is dark brown and fissured. |
| Shape | Large, dense somewhat rounded. |
| Landscape | The English Elm is a large deciduous shade tree; often found along roadsides and the edges of forests and woodlots. Before it’s decline due to Dutch Elm disease, the English Elm was a common sight in Europe. It is a very diverse tree and can be planted as a specimen tree or a focal point, or used simply as a shade tree. It is tolerant to salt spray as well air pollution making it well suited as a street tree.
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| Propagation | Ulmus procera can be propagated through softwood cuttings, by seed or layering. If softwood cutting are taken they should be rooted in early to mid summer. The majority of the seeds produced by the tree are sterile, but the tree produces many seeds so they should be sown in large numbers. Ulmus procera produces root suckers as an alternative means for reproduction due to poor seed germination. These root suckers found at the base of the tree are used to propagate the tree through layering. Root suckers remain attached to the tree and are treated with rooting hormone before being partially buried. Once rooted suckers are cut off the tree and can be transplanted. |
| Cultivation | Can be grown in varying conditions but will perform best in well-drained, nutrient rich soils. Should be planted in full sun and in a fairly neutral pH to prevent it from becoming chlorotic. It is cold hardy and tolerant to salt spray. |
| Pests | The Elm Bark Beetle is the most significant pest. The beetle transports and spreads the fungus that causes Dutch Elm disease. Dutch Elm Disease causes damage to the vascular system of the tree and inevitably death. Asian long horned beetle may also be a problem as they have been reported to attack elm trees. Elm leaf beetle may also be an issue in some areas causing mostly cosmetic damage to the foliage. |
| Notable Specimens | Ulmus procera specimens can be found at the University of Guelph’s “World of Trees” arboretum Guelph, Ontario. |
| Habitat | The English Elm will grow in most soils as long as they are well drained and therefore have many habitats. It is commonly found on the edges of woodlots and roads. It often grows in rows and clusters because it reproduces through root suckers.
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| Bark/Stem Description | Rough bark, furrowed, dark brown. New growth is slightly pubescent. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Buds are ovoid, about 2.5 cm in length, pubescent and dark (nearly black) in color. |
| Leaf Description | Leaves are pubescent and dark green in colour. They turn yellow to brown in autumn. The leaves are alternate, simple, doubly serrate, ovate, oblique, and acuminate. Leaves vary in size from 5-9 cm long, and about 6 cm wide. |
| Flower Description | The flowers of the English Elm are produced before the trees foliage. They are perfect, small dark pink/red, about 2 cm long and hang in tassels. |
| Fruit Description | Has samaras that occur in small clusters about 2 cm long and 2 cm wide. The samara has a seed in the center flanked by two papery wings giving the samara a rounded shape. The majority of seeds are infertile/sterile. |
| Colour Description | Foliage is dark green in the summer, turning yellow/brown in late autumn with dark brown bark and dark (nearly black) buds. The tree produces little colour other than the tassels of small dark pink/red flowers produced by the tree in February/March. |
| Texture Description | It is a medium textured tree with rough, finely fissured bark and pubescent buds. The tree produces different textures throughout the season as it produces rough textured leaves with a pubescent surface and samaras with papery textured wings. |
