Wych elm is a large deciduous shade tree in the Ulmaceae family native to Europe. It prefers organically rich, moist, well-drained loamy soil in the full sun. It has a broad, rounded crown and grows 70-100 ft tall and 50 to 70 feet wide. Propagation is by seed. Unfortunately, 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 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 drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
more than 60 feet
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 70 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in. | Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Broad; Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Doubly Dentate
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
Reddish green non-showy flowers appear in early to mid spring before leaves.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Flat, papert samara with 1 seed appear in spring to summer
Bark color
Dark Gray
Bark detail
Bark gray, smooth, furrowed with age.
Stem detail
Twigs ash-gray to red-brown. Bud scales overlap.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, Western Asia
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Samara
Landscape Use
Garden tags
#dendrology #large tree #air pollution tolerant #deciduous #drought tolerant #deciduous tree #disease problems #frequent insect problems #dutch elm disease
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Elm Leaf Beetle; Elm Sawfly; Smaller European Elm Bark Beetle; Native Elm Bark Beetle; Larger Elm Leaf Beetle; Elm Lace Bug; Mourning Cloak Butterfly / Spiny Elm Caterpillar; Elm Leafminer; Elm-Grass Root Aphid; Elm Zigzag Sawfly; Common Insect Pests of Elm in North Carolina
Disease problems
Dutch Elm Disease; Common Diseases of Elm Trees in North Carolina