Chinese Elm
Ulmus pumila (ULM-us POO-mil-uh)
The Siberian Elm is a very adaptable deciduous, fast-growing tree that 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 considered a poor ornamental tree, mostly because of its weak branches, messy habit, and susceptibility to insect attack, especially leaf beetles. In some areas, this tree is considered weedy and borderline invasive. This tree is native to Asia and was introduced in the United States in the 1860s. At that time, it was valued for its hardiness and fast growth. It is used as a windbreak tree. It has been widely planted in Minnesota and can be found along roadsides and grasslands forming dense thickets. The leaves are doubly serrate, dark green on the upper surface, and light green below. They are oblique or have a larger blade on one side than the other. In the winter, there are large shiny black buds present. Quick ID Hints: 50 to 70 feet in height, 35 to 50 feet wide with a vase-shaped crown bark is dark gray in mature trees with silver-gray twigs leaves are alternate, simple, doubly serrate, ovate to lanceolate shape, oblique, dark green upper surface, and light green beneath drooping clusters of light green to reddish flowers appear in the spring before the leaves develop and are not showy fruit is a samara that is winged, rounded, 0.5 to 1-inch in diameter, brown, dry, and hard large black shiny buds during the winter Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The leaves are often eaten by the 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 More information on Ulmus .
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 62 attributes.