Elm (lat. Ulmus) is a genus of powerful trees from the Elm family (lat. Ulmaceae). Trees have other equally well-known names: birch bark and elm. And several species of this genus: V. small, V. small-leaved, V. squat, are quite often called elm. Many representatives of the genus are distributed in the deciduous forests of the Volga region, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Southern Urals, Europe and China. In nature, they rarely form homogeneous stands: most often they are mixed with other trees.
Description
Elm is a large deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 m. At this height, the diameter of the trunk reaches 2 m. There are species in the genus that grow as shrubs. The crown of elms can be wide cylindrical or spherical. The branching is sympodial, that is, the top of the main branch (axis) at some point stops growing, and its place is taken by a side branch, growing in the direction of the main axis; over time, a kind of ladder along the trunk is obtained.
The color of the bark is mostly brown. In young specimens the bark is smooth, but with age it becomes coarser, longitudinal cracks appear on it, and in some species there are swellings. The root system is powerful, often without a tap root. The leaves are arranged alternately, in a two-row mosaic pattern, which makes the crown of the elms practically impervious to light and forms a dense shadow at the base. The leaves are from 5 to 20 cm long and have short petioles. The shapes and sizes of the leaves can be different; they form a kind of lace - the so-called ligature. With the arrival of autumn, the leaves turn an elegant yellow color.
Botanical illustration of the type species U. americana
Elm flowering begins early: in March-April. Small, inconspicuous flowers, grouped in bunches in the axils of the leaves, are pollinated by the wind. The fruits ripen in April-June depending on climatic conditions. The fruits are winged nuts collected in groups. Elms begin to bear fruit at the age of 7-8 years. A large number of seeds ripen on each tree, which are carried by the wind and, once in moist soil, germinate in 5-7 days. Trees live up to 120, and some up to 300 years.
Species diversity
Elms have been cultivated for a very long time; based on some species, many varieties and hybrids have been developed that are widely used in landscaping city streets and public gardens.
V. small-leaved(lat. U. parvifolia) and V. squat (lat. U. pumila) in some places called elmovik (sometimes elm). In the natural environment, the species is widespread in the northern regions of China, Kazakhstan, Western Siberia, Mongolia, and India. It is cultivated in European countries, Canada and the USA. V. squat grows up to 25 m, V. small-leaved lower - up to 15 m. The leaves of both species are small - up to 8 cm long, oval with pointed tips. From the bark of these trees a fiber similar to hemp is obtained. Elm loves bright places and is not picky about the composition of the soil and its moisture. The trees tolerate replanting and pruning well. In addition, they do not have root shoots, which makes the species valuable for decorative use. There are varieties, for example, ‘Celer’, which are great for creating hedges.
Camperdown Elm in Brooklyn Park (U. glabra ‘Camperdownii’)
V. small(lat. U. minor) or birch bark - this species, like the previous two, is called elm. The trees are distinguished by their relatively short growth (up to 10 m) and low-lying crown. You can often see cork growths on branches, which add value to the wood. In its natural environment it grows in Ukraine, Asia Minor, Western Europe and the southern regions of Russia. It differs from other species in the shape of its leaves. In elm they are elongated, obovate in shape with jagged edges. The species loves sunny places, but is not very frost-resistant. A characteristic feature is the ability to develop a network of surface roots, which perfectly strengthen the top layer of soil.
V. rough(lat. U. glabra) or V. mountainous is a species that grows naturally in Asia Minor, Europe, the Caucasus and Crimea. The species is frost-resistant (found in Karelia and northern Norway). Trees with a high crown grow up to 30 m. The leaves are large, up to 15 cm long. The bark is smooth. Flowering occurs in April, fruiting in May. The species is demanding on soil. Grows well in the shade. Based on it, many interesting varieties have been developed that are widely used in landscape design.
V. small-leaved (U. parvifolia)
Decorative forms of elm:
V. mountain "Camperdown"(lat. U. glabra ‘Camperdownii’) - a beautiful variety with a rounded crown shape and drooping branches. Plants grow up to 4 m. They can withstand frosts down to -30 °C; in summer you need to make sure that the soil does not dry out.
V. mountain "Low"(lat. U. glabra ‘Nana’) is a low-growing, slow-growing elm. The tree grows up to 2 m and has small leaves. This variety is similar to U. glabra ‘Crispa’, which also grows slowly. Of interest are the beautiful leaves with terry edges.
V. rough ‘Lutescens’(lat. U. glabra ‘Lutescens’) – a variety that has very beautiful and delicate leaf colors. One of the few elms that does not suffer from Dutch elm disease.
V. rough “Weeping” (U. glabra ‘Pendula’)
V. rough "Weeping"(lat. U. glabra ‘Pendula’) is an excellent option for growing for decorative purposes. Grows up to 5 m. The crown looks like an inverted bowl. The branches are long, hanging with large beautiful leaves.
V. small "Jacqueline Hillier"(lat. U. minor ‘Jacqueline Hillier’) – a slow-growing variety with small leaves. Can be grown as a shrub. Can be found on sale on a standard. Grows up to 3.5 m. It develops well both in the shade and in the sun.
Photo gallery of species
Growing
Site selection and care
Planting elm is most successful on fertile soils, especially on floodplains. Heavy soils are fertilized with organic matter. Some species tolerate soil salinity and lack of moisture well. Many elms are shade-tolerant, but there are varieties that love sunny places.
The trees are undemanding in care and cultivation and tolerate frosty winters quite well. If the branches of the plant are slightly frozen, they can be easily trimmed in the spring. General recommendations suitable for many species are:
- fertile, well-drained soil;
- good watering at the beginning of summer, later it is reduced, but the soil is not allowed to dry out excessively.
Small elm in the form of bonsai (U. minor)
Trimming
You can prune in autumn and very early spring. Elms grow slowly, so we are talking about rare and weak pruning, or no pruning at all. Varieties suitable for hedges are trimmed from mid-summer as needed. All species require sanitary pruning, in which old and dry branches are removed. When grown for decorative purposes, trees are formed as standard trees, leaving a bare trunk of the desired height. In addition, you can remove branches that are unevenly distributed along the main shoot. Weeping varieties do not form and are not pruned.
Elm and spruce
Reproduction
In nature, elm propagation occurs by self-seeding. The seeds quickly lose their viability, so when growing elm seeds, only freshly harvested material is sown (May-June). Before planting, they are moistened for 2-3 days and treated with a fungicide. Planting depth 1 cm, distance between holes 20 cm, cover with moss or hay on top, water well. Shoots appear in a week. After the sprouts have become stronger, the moss is removed and the soil around is well loosened. Watering is reduced and stopped by mid-August. From seeds in the first year, plants grow up to 15 cm, then annually they grow up to 40 cm. It is better to wrap small plants for the winter.
Elms also reproduce vegetatively: by stump shoots and root suckers. The reliability of such methods is low, so it is better to purchase a ready-made 3-4 year old seedling.
Elm seeds
Diseases and pests
Elm is susceptible to invasions of leaf-eating insects: elm leaf beetle, scale insect and springtail. They can suffer from fungal diseases: Dutch elm disease, which leads to drying out of the branches and death of the plant. For insects, ordinary insecticidal preparations are used. But there is no cure for fungal disease. For prevention, a young tree can be treated with a systemic fungicidal drug, for example, Maxim KS.
Elm in the company of flowers
Decorative use
Elm is excellent for urban conditions: it grows quickly and is drought-resistant. Looks beautiful when planted together with acacias and conifers. It can be used for quick landscaping and also for hedges. Decorative and ordinary forms of elms are used to create parks and gardens. Some varieties look spectacular in the central areas of grass lawns. It is better not to plant flowering plants directly under elms, as their crowns form deep shade. Due to the fact that elms tolerate pruning well, they are used in the Japanese art of growing dwarf bonsai trees.
Interesting fact: elm wood does not rot when placed in water. Therefore, in ancient times it was used to make water pipes and supports for bridges. Elm has also found its use: in the production of furniture its wood is highly valued for its beautiful pattern and high strength.
The crown of the elm is weeping and spreading. During flowering, it is decorated with inflorescences. Its beautiful appearance allows the plant to be used for decorating a garden plot.
Ornamental trees and shrubs: description of rough elm
The height of the elm is about 5 m. Many branches grow in all directions. The crown looks spreading and voluminous. Closer to the top it takes on a flat shape. The foliage is dense and dense. The shape of the leaf plate is not symmetrical. Its surface has a rough texture. Large leaves grow on small cuttings. The large volume of foliage creates significant shade. With the arrival of autumn, its green tint gives way to yellow-orange.
Rough elm has a dense, uneven crown
Young specimens have a high growth rate. With age, its activity slows down. At the end of spring the flowering period begins. Many inflorescences are formed on the tree, consisting of miniature flowers of a light shade. A short time later, elliptical-shaped fruits appear.
Elm has a powerful and durable root system. Lateral roots grow on the surface of the ground
The tree can be grown in either single or mixed plantings. It is able to grow in the shade of other trees. The pendula species is the most shade-tolerant.
Rough elm pendula: cultivation
The plant can be propagated by grafting. The height of the trunk affects the size it will reach in the future. The tree is not demanding of daylight. It can be grown in partial shade or shade. In joint plantings, it is important to maintain distance. Elm does not tolerate compacted planting. To protect it from dangerous pests, it is not recommended to plant next to:
- currants;
- pear;
- apple tree
Elm grows well in light and loose soil that does not interfere with air circulation. The soil must be fertile. Mineral complexes and organic matter can be applied as fertilizers. Rough elm can withstand short-term stagnation of water.
Description of elm as a representative of ornamental trees and shrubs
Ornamental elm is used in urban and home gardening as a fast-growing plant that provides shade. In the wild, it is found in mixed deciduous-coniferous forests and grows up to 40 m. Some representatives reach a trunk volume of 2 m.
General Descriptions
The elm family includes 40 varieties of trees and shrubs. The second name is birch. In nature, these are tall trees with a powerful root system, whose age reaches 120–400 years. For landscaping, breeders have bred dwarf and medium-sized representatives, standard ones with different leaf sizes and colors.
Source: Depositphotos
Weeping form of decorative elm in landscape gardening
The general characteristics of elm as a representative of ornamental trees and shrubs include the following:
- deciduous and moisture-loving;
- cylindrical or spherical crown;
- leaves with a pattern, up to 20 cm long;
- flowering period - April;
- the flowers are small, collected in bunches;
- decorative varieties are propagated by seeds and grafting.
Fertile, light soils are suitable for planting birch bark. There are sun-loving and shade-tolerant trees, so this feature is taken into account when choosing a planting site. Tree pruning is done for sanitary purposes and rarely for decorative purposes. Birch bark grows slowly, so it does not require special care. The crown of the tree is dense and provides good shade, so flower beds are not planted around the trunk.
The best decorative varieties
Decorative varieties of birch bark are bred from wild species. The most popular is small-leaved elm. Its varieties are used in urban landscaping; the most common are:
- "Pendyla" - weeping crown shape with flexible young shoots;
- "Lutescens" - rounded crown shape, leaves from light green to dark yellow;
- "Fastigiata" - formed in the form of a column.
Among the low-growing representatives of the family, the mountain elm varieties “Campendula” and “Nizkiy” are distinguished by their decorative characteristics. "Campendula" reaches a height of 4 m. The crown is rounded, with long hanging branches. “Low” birch bark grows up to 2 m. It grows slowly, has small openwork leaves.
"Jacqueline Hiller" is grown as a shrub or on a trunk. It reaches a height of 3–3.5 m, adapts equally well to shady and sunny places.
Elms do not tolerate pruning. They can only be trimmed a little. Therefore, each decorative representative has a certain crown shape at the genetic level. Therefore, it does not need to be formed. Most tree-like birch barks tolerate cold temperatures down to -30 ° C, so they are grown in different regions of the world from North America to the shores of the southern seas.
A tree of the first size, up to 30 m high, with a high crown and large rough leaves (up to 8-20 cm). According to some scientists, under the general name Mountain Elm, two forms of the same species are combined: with a bare fruit (typical form) - Ulmus scabra Mill (rough elm) and with a fruit pubescent in the center - elliptic elm (Uelliptica C. Koch, U. sukaczewii Andron). These forms are neither geographically nor geologically separated. This species is more frost-resistant, but also more heat-loving than smooth elm; it is demanding of soil richness and moisture, like the common elm. It develops especially well on ordinary chernozems. Does not tolerate salinity and dryness. It has significant shade tolerance and regenerates relatively well under the canopy of spruce, oak and beech. Distributed in the European part of Russia, in the Crimea and the Caucasus (at altitudes up to 2200 m). Abroad, it grows in Central Asia, Europe, Scandinavia, the Balkans and Asia Minor. The northern border of its range runs from the southern part of the Karelian Isthmus and Petrozavodsk to Vologda, Perm and ends south of Sverdlovsk; the southern border within the black earth zone reaches Saratov and Dnepropetrovsk. The number of chromosomes is different for different forms: 2n = 28, 42, 56 (important for the development of new forms). Rough elm can reach an age of up to 300 years. Rough elm is a tree with a round or semi-oval crown with large leaves. It can grow up to 40 meters in height, the trunk reaches a circumference of 0.8 m. The bark is brownish in color, with cracks on the surface. The leaves are oblong, with toothed edges, and the roots are short. The color of the leaves is light green; in autumn they turn yellow. It feels best on damp, sparsely forested slopes and in groves near streams. The rough elm can survive in dry places, but its growth is slow. In the absence of foliage, the rough elm can be recognized by its typical sharp angles between the branches pointing upward. The crown consists of several trunks, forming a narrow tower, in contrast to the smooth elm. The spatulate leaves with a rough, sandpaper-like upper surface are clearly distinct from the smooth leaves of Smooth Elm. The fruits are lionfish the size of a one euro coin.
Elm belongs to the Elm family. This is a large tree with a spreading dense crown, found in Europe, North America, Asia in the temperate zone, and also in tropical Asia in the mountains. The Latin name Ulmus comes from the Celtic name for this tree - elm. In Russian there are several names for the plant: elm, elm, birch bark, elmovik, but usually these are the names of different species. There are a total of 16 species of this genus.
What does an elm look like?
Elm is a large tree with an elliptical or rounded crown. The branches are spreading, with dense foliage. The leaves are simple, large, alternate, often unequal. The plant blooms before the leaves bloom. The flowers are inconspicuous, small, collected in bunches. The nut-shaped fruits are winged and ripen several weeks after the flowering period. The seeds lose their viability quite quickly. Elm wood is hard, similar to European walnut, and is considered a valuable species.
Elm provides dense shade, but loves sunny places. At a young age it grows quickly, especially if the soil is fresh, fertile, and loose.
Tolerant of drought conditions and tolerates pruning easily.
Photo gallery
Common types of elm
- English (Ulmus procera Salisb) grows in Southern and Western Europe. Distributed in deciduous and mixed forests, in river valleys, floodplains on rich soils.
The tree grows up to 50 m. It has high winter hardiness.
- Androsov's elm (Ulmus x androssowii Litv)- a hybrid between squat and bush elms. Many classify it as a variety of squat elm. The tree reaches 20 m, has a very dense crown in the shape of a tent. The bark is gray, on young shoots it is yellowish or ashy. The leaves are rounded-ovate, pointed towards the apex, grow on fluffy cuttings 1 cm long. The winged fruits are angular-round, 2.5 cm long.
The species is winter-hardy and requires soils with moderate moisture, although it tolerates aridity quite well. It grows quickly and reproduces by seeds. Often used in park construction, it is beautiful in group plantings and in single ones. Also used as living uncut hedges.
- Common elm is also called smooth elm (Ulmus laevisPall). It grows naturally in the European part of Russia, Western Siberia, the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, and Western Europe. It prefers rich soils and usually grows in deciduous forests.
Grows up to 25 m, has a beautiful elliptical wide crown. The branches are thin and drooping. Young shoots are fluffy, becoming smooth and shiny as they mature. The bark is light brown, in mature trees it darkens, becomes brownish-brown and peels off in thin plates. The leaves are oblong, pointed, unequal at the base. The edges of the leaves are sickle-toothed. The leaves are dark green above, light green below. The lower part of the leaves is soft-hairy, the upper part is bare. In autumn, the color changes to brownish-purple tones. The flowers are small, brownish, with purple protruding stamens. Peduncles are long, descending. The elm blooms for 10 days, after which winged fruits with cilia along the edge are formed.
The common elm is a long-liver, living up to 300 years. It grows quickly, tolerates pruning well, and keeps its crown shape. In urban conditions it grows slowly, especially on poor, dry soils. Early leaf fall and crown drying may occur. Compact soils and asphalt paving also retard elm growth. Does not like shading by buildings, dust, or soil salinity.
It is used in single and group plantings and looks beautiful in alleys.
- Hornbeam (Ulmus carpinifolia Rupp. ex Suckow) found in the Caucasus, Central Asia, European Russia, North Africa, Kazakhstan, Western Europe. Grows in broad-leaved forests in sunny places.
The elm reaches 20 m in height, it has a dense spreading crown, reaching 10 m in diameter.
The branches are thin, dark brown, and have corky growths. The leaves are dark green, dense, unequal, shiny. Shape and size vary. The leaves are bare above and covered with sparse hairs below. In autumn the foliage turns bright yellow. It blooms before the leaves bloom; small flowers are reddish-red, collected in spherical bunches. Lionfish fruits are 2 cm long.
A very winter-hardy tree, quite salt-tolerant. It is undemanding to soil, although active growth is observed in nutritious, moist soils.
Forms dense living hedges and walls and is used in the design of gardens, squares, and parks.
- Thick (Ulmus densa Litv) distributed in the wild in Central Asia. It is a tall, up to 30 m, tree with a dense, wide, pyramidal, low-slung crown. The bark on young shoots is yellow-brown or gray, on old branches it is dark. The leaves are leathery, oblong-ovate, either bare or pubescent.
An unpretentious tree, drought-resistant, so it is excellent for landscaping the southern European part of Russia for single plantings, creating alleys and compositions.
- Lobed (Ulmus laciniata (Trautv.) Mayr) grows in East Asia and the Far East. Located in coniferous-deciduous mixed forests. This tree is shade-tolerant and quite frost-resistant. Good for use in decorative landscaping.
- Pinnate Elm also called Pinnately branched elm And Euonymus (Ulmus pinnato-ramosa Dieck). Grows in the wild in Kazakhstan, the Far East, Eastern Siberia and East Asia. It usually grows on pebbles, sands, gravelly screes, and is found in open forests and valley forests. Loves lighted places and is salt tolerant.
The tree grows up to 15 m. The crown is openwork, spreading in young trees, oval in adults. The branches are thin, flexible, drooping, grayish-pubescent. Small leaves are elliptical in shape, smooth, sometimes symmetrical, dark green in summer, turning yellow in autumn. The leaves are arranged in two rows, so the shoots look covered with large feathery leaves, for this reason the name was given to the species. The flowers are small, collected in bunches.
The pinnate elm is quite winter-hardy and freezes slightly in severe winters. Resistant to drought, undemanding to soil. It grows very quickly. But trees reach large sizes only in the southern regions on well-moistened soils. Tolerant to urban conditions, asphalting, street dust, smoke. Beautiful in decorative plantings, but does not provide street shade. You can form a more compact and dense crown by pruning.
- Squat elm also called small-leaved, Ilmovik (Ulmus pumila L). It grows in the wild in the Far East, northern Mongolia, Japan, Korea, and Transbaikalia.
Found in deciduous and mixed forests, prefers fertile soils.
Low, grows up to 15 m, sometimes grows as a shrub with a dense, rounded crown. The branches are thin, young pubescent. The leaves are small, elliptical, leathery, with a sharp short apex, somewhat unequal.
In spring, the leaves are green, the lower part of the leaf is light green. The leaves darken in summer and turn olive-yellow in autumn. Flowers are collected in small bunches. The winged seeds are ocher or yellow-brown. Winter hardiness is average, this species is light-loving, unpretentious to the soil, its richness and moisture.
Squat elm is drought-resistant and tolerates shaping and pruning well. Develops in urban environments.
This species easily tolerates replanting and is very good for landscaping in arid areas. The undoubted advantage of elm is the absence of root suckers; this is a wonderful quality for garden and park construction. It is used in landscaping new buildings, creating trimmed hedges, and street plantings.
- Related elm has a second name - Japanese birch bark (Ulmus propinqua Koidz = U. japonica(Rehder) Sarg). Grows in eastern Transbaikalia, Mongolia, Japan, Northern China, and the Far East. Distributed in cedar-broad-leaved valley forests.
This type of elm is a large plant up to 35 m in height, beautiful, with a regular, even, straight trunk, a wide spreading crown, and quite dense.
The bark is whitish on the trunk, brown on the shoots, smooth or with corky growths, it looks beautiful when the plant is not covered with foliage.
Young shoots have thick pubescence and dark brown buds. The obovate leaves have an unequal base and grow on a short petiole. The leaves are rough-pubescent on top and fluffy underneath. In spring the foliage is green, in summer it darkens, in autumn it is brownish-red, dark crimson, brown-chestnut, the leaves are whitish below. The flowers are small, reddish, collected in bunches. The winged seeds are yellow-brown in color.
Japanese birch bark grows faster than other elms and tolerates shading, frost, and urban conditions. Propagated by root suckers and seeds. Good for landscaping cities, parks, green buildings. Particularly beautiful in autumn.