Tabletop elm is a sport of its parent found as a seeding in a plant nursery in Perth, Scotland in 1816. It is grafted to the species rootstock. Tabletop elm is a small tree with horizontal branches and weeping branchlets. It prefers full sun in moist, well-drained loam but is adaptable to other soil types. Unfortunately, it is highly susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease like its parent. Use as a specimen or small shade tree. It can still be found for sale but be aware of its problems with diseases. See some native alternatives to the left. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Dutch Elm Disease, elm bark beetle, elm leaf minor to name a few. See diseases of elms to the left. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Ulmus glabra .
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) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 65 ft. 0 in. | Width: 22 ft. 3 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading; Weeping
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3-6 inch long leaves are short-stalked and oval with a pointed tip and asymmetrical base.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
tiny pale green flowers with no petals borne in clusters in early spring before the leaves.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a one-seeded winged fruit 3/4 - 1 inch long, borne on a short stalk. Fruits are flat, pale green, hairless, with a notch at the tip and are borne in dense clusters.
Bark color
Dark Gray
Bark detail
The bark is grey and smooth and develops rugged vertical grooves with age.
Stem detail
Horizontal branches with weeping branchlets
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Samara
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Design feature
Shade Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#deciduous #shade tree #wind tolerant #disease problems #arching #weeping #dutch elm disease #frequent insect problems #frequent disease problems #street tree #full sun
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; Common Insect Pests of Elm in North Carolina
Disease problems
Dutch Elm Disease; Common Diseases of Elm Trees in North Carolina