Cedar Elm

Ulmus crassifolia

Comments: A mature cedar elm with glossy green leaves, slightly weeping branches and rounded crown, is a very attractive landscape plant. The new leaves in the spring are extremely glossy green, creating almost a glistening effect in contrast to other dull green leaves in the landscape. Tolerant of heavy clay soils and wet locations. Sometimes confused with winged elm.

Culture: A very adaptable, tough and tolerant tree where poor or heavy soils exist. Drought resistant, moderately wind resistant and moderately tolerant to soil compaction or disturbance of the root system.

Size: 40-60 ft. tall, 30-40 ft. wide.

Growth rate: Moderate

Bark: Young stem is reddish brown, slightly hairy and may have small corky wings on either side. Bark on the old stem is brown to gray with shallow ridges and thin loose scales. Wood is moderately stout, hard and heavy.

Leaves: Simple, alternate, about 1-2 inches long, ?-1 inch wide, elliptical to ovate, gently tapering to a point, somewhat rounded at the base and with a double sawtooth margin.

Fall Color: Yellow

Flower: Small, inconspicuous, in late September or early October.

Fruit: Small winged seed, more or less oval in shape or horseshoe-shaped with a notch in the end, typical of the elm family.

Pests: Resistant to Dutch elm disease. Elm leaf beetles may slight damage some seasons, but rarely severe.

Cultivars: None