Cathedral elm is a hybrid developed at the University of Wisconsin by crossing Japanese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) with Siberian Elm ( Ulmus pumila ). Cathedral elm has a spreading vase-shape and grows 50 to 80 feet tall. It has good resistance to Dutch elm disease, elm leaf beetle and other leaf-cutting insects. It requires regular pruning during the first 15 years to develop a sound structure. Cathedral elm is tolerant of various soil types, pH ranges, pollution and salt. The tree is distinguished by its large, elliptic leaves that turn yellow and orange in the fall. The dense canopy and upright spreading habit make it good for use as a shade or street tree. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Ulmus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
more than 60 feet
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Spreading; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Large green leaves with serrated margins and pointed tips. Fall color is yellow to orange.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
Seperate male and female flowers in spring are insignificant clusters
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit detail
Flat papery samara with 1 seed
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Samara
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Design feature
Shade Tree; Street Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous #street tree #drought tolerant #spreading #shade tree #fast growing #full sun tolerant #disease resistant #poor soil tolerant
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Smaller European Elm Bark Beetle; Elm Sawfly; Larger Elm Leaf Beetle; Native Elm Bark Beetle; Elm Lace Bug; Mourning Cloak Butterfly / Spiny Elm Caterpillar; Elm Leafminer; Elm-Grass Root Aphid; Elm Zigzag Sawfly; Native Elm Bark Beetle; Common Insect Pests of Elm in North Carolina