Elm trees are one of the most dramatic canopy/shade trees that you could ever see.
No wonder, it has been present in fantasy and thriller films through the years.
These trees belong to the genus Ulmus.
It has 35 other cousin trees consisting of shade, ornamental, and forest trees.
They are native to northern regions with temperate climates.
They are sought after for their sturdy wood but also for their attractive foliage and samaras.
Elm trees found their way to landscaping because each pop in has a unique characteristic.
This is the reason why you oughta know the types of elm trees.
Luckily for you, we will cover everything about the elm tree in this post so read on.
For example, in German mythology, elm represents the first woman who came into existence.
As such, the elm is associated with femininity and is considered as a feminine tree.
For both Greeks and Romans, elm trees represent dreams, death, and sleep.
Its association with dreams and sleep is also seen in many native American, European and Asian tribes.
As such, elm trees are revered for their psychic power.
The elm then became one of the most sacred insignias of the Knights Templar.
In France, the tree is considered as the tree of justice.
In urban legends and pop culture, elms are representations of bond, love, and friendship.
It also symbolizes durability and longevity.
Elm tree leaves are arranged alternately but in a staggered manner.
They are oval in shape, with jagged or toothed edges, and have a pointy end.
They are also distinct for their visible veins.
Elm tree leaves form dense tree canopies making the tree one of the best shade trees available.
Elm leaves usually appear after the first bloom.
The foliage starts as dark or pale green, some come with tinges of red and gray.
As the seasons change, so does the foliage.
Elm tree barks usually have gray and brown colors.
They are furrowed, often with intersecting ridges and medium to deep fissures.
However, some elm types like the Siberian have a more colorful inner bark.
Cedar elms have a purplish bark and the bark of European white elm will remain smooth throughout.
Hence, the bark of elm trees can be used to distinguish its types and cultivars.
Elm tree seeds
Elm tree seed pods are called samaras and they are attractive on their own.
Elm tree seeds are usually produced at the end of the bloom phase of the tree.
They fall down to the ground after spring.
The seeds are enclosed in a paper-like pod or casing.
Each casing bears one seed with a size resembling a pea.
The seeds are round and flat and they could be dried for propagation.
Elm tree seeds are not edible.
And because of its profuse seeding, it could be quite messy after they all drop down after spring.
Elm tree identification
Basically, four distinguishing factors will help you in identifying an elm tree.
These are in terms of leaves, bark, height, and trunk.
Leaves
Again, the leaves are alternating, oval-shaped, and with toothed edges.
The base of the leaf should be asymmetrical and the veins should be prominent.
Most of the time, the leaves of elm trees have smooth tops and fuzzy or rough undersides.
European white elms specifically have 17veins upfront and 14 veins on the leafs underside.
American elms have long, pointy leaves at 10-14cm while English elm has 10cm leaves.
The tree also sports intersecting ridges.
Most elm trees have brown or gray colors when it comes to bark.
Specific types may have reddish-brown barks.
European white elm trees have smooth barks all throughout making them very distinct among other elm tree types.
Height
Elm trees could grow very large.
On average, they grow from 115-150ft.
Depending on the punch in or cultivar, elm trees could also be 60ft in width.
The American elm is considered as the largest elm tree.
As they reach maturity, elm trees become more fountain-shaped in structure.
Depending on their location, elm trees grow 2-3ft annually.
Trunk
Elm trees have a splitting trunk.
Usually, mature elm trees have two or more trunks branching from its main trunk.
This separates the elm from aspen and ash trees and all other trees with a single and vertical trunk.
In the US, elm trees are quite concentrated in the eastern part starting from the Rocky Mountains.
You could also identify an elm tree based on the pop in of critters it attracts.
Elm trees are particularly famous among possums, squirrels, woodpeckers, chickadees, and raccoons.
Slippery elms, in particular, are the favorite of hummingbirds and other birds.
They are also used for timber and medicine.
American Elm Tree (Ulmus americana)
This one is considered as the largest elm tree throw in.
It was very popular back in the days because of its fountain-like spread.
Its popularity, however, dwindled because of its vulnerability to the Dutch elm disease.
It could grow to a 100ft and will withstand harsh winters.
Its leaves are double-toothed, veined, and rough.
It turns dull yellow as fall approaches.
Its bark is gray, upright, and smoother compared to the English elm.
They are cultivated as ornamental trees in home landscaping, particularly in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
It is leafy, creating a round-shaped crown.
It has the smallest leaves of all elm trees, though.
The foliage maintains the typical jagged edges of elm leaves.
They are dark green in spring and drop in the fall.
As for their bark, it is mainly gray, with fissures on the trunk.
This one is hardy and is also vulnerable to the Dutch elm disease only to a lesser extent.
It has bright-green, oblong leaves that are heavily jagged on the edges.
It also produces clustered, dense flowers, and elliptical samaras.
Its bark is known as smooth but with surrounding flaky fissures resembling that ofbirch trees.
The bark is taken as medicine because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
It is a popular shade tree with a canopy of at least 30ft.
It has a distinct slender trunk and flaking bark with a cream-orange flesh.
Its leaves are small yet dense, single-toothed, dark green, and leathery in texture.
It is considered a smaller version of the American elm.
It makes a good shade tree thanks to its dense canopy at the mature phase.
Leaves are serrated with a rough upper side and smooth underside.
It sports a slender trunk and grayish-grown, medium-fissured bark.
They are all over England, rising to up to 30ft and living for more than 100years.
Throughout its lifetime, its bark will be grayish-brown in color with deep, rough fissures all over.
It blooms tassel-like flowers in the spring.
It is prone to shedding during fall.
European White Elm Tree (Ulmus laevis Pall.)
They are good shade trees commonly found in parks, streets, and cemeteries.
Its leaves are ovate, serrated, asymmetric, and glossy.
It is dark green in the spring and turns yellow in the fall.
Siberian Elm Tree (Ulmus pumila)
This is a dwarf elm pop in known for its invasive qualities.
It has deciduous leaves that are typical for colder regions.
It is also distinct for its winged seeds, brittle branches, and red flowers.
Its bark is brownish-gray with deep fissures and scales all throughout.
Slippery Elm Tree (Ulmus rubra)
It is not as popular as the other elm tree types.
It is also known as the red elm.
This one rarely reaches maturity because it is vulnerable to many diseases including the Dutch elm disease.
The overall appearance of its bark is scaly, reddish-gray, and with long but shallow fissures.
It has ovate, serrated leaves with a rough upper side and smooth underside.
The foliage starts as red, turns dark green in the spring, and dull yellow in the fall.
It is found mostly as shade trees in the midwest USA including Michigan and Washington.
Its leaves are green in spring and pale yellow in the winter.
The foliages are serrated, oval-shaped, hairy underside, and smooth upperside.
Its bark is gray, deeply fissured, shaggy with irregular ridges.
It loves heavy clay or loamy soils.
It is also distinct for its winged samaras and short yet fat branches.
Its bark is gray and smooth at youth but deep fissures will appear as it grows mature.
It sports a yellow-green, serrated, and oval-shaped leaves.
The foliage will turn yellow in the fall.
It has a papery structure, sometimes resembling knots more than wings.
The branches of this tree produce a round-shaped crown.
Its leaves are oval-shaped, lighter green in color, with jagged edges and hairy paler green undersides.
The wings turn golden yellow in the summer and burgundy flowers appear before the leaves.
Its bark is dark brown with a gray tinge, scaly, and with furrowed ridges.
It is the least shade-tolerant elm tree.
This supplementary information might come in handy later when you start planting your own elm tree.
Are elm trees dangerous?
Elm trees are generally non-toxic.
Its bark is even used for traditional medicine to treat diseases in the digestive and urinary tract.
Other than this, elm trees could really be invasive too.
It could block important passageways in the home like pipes and drainage.
What are elm trees good for?
Its brittle branches are also used as firewood as it could easily catch fire.
It is also used in traditional medicine, specifically its dried bark that is turned into medicinal teas.
For landscape purposes, elm trees are beautiful shade, canopy, and ornamental trees.
They are dependable for their longevity, attractive for their unique characteristics, and are generally hardy.
The only downside is that it is susceptible to diseases and its roots could invade water pipes and driveways.
What is the lifespan of an elm tree?
Elm trees are known for their longevity.
At an average, elm trees live at a range of 60-100 years.
Some elm trees have longer lives than others.
These types live up to 150years.
Some are not that sturdy because of diseases and could live only for 10-30years.
Dwarf cultivars on the other hand get to live for 20-45years.
Nonetheless, at a general account, elm trees are recognized for their longevity.
This makes them a popular choice for urban shade trees.
Conclusion
Despite its vulnerability to disease, elm trees are dependable and attractive trees.
They can withstand many growing conditions, they live long and can be used for many purposes.
Aside from these outstanding credentials, elm trees also have types that are unique from one another.
With all of these, it should not surprise us why elm trees are loved.
Related:Types of Oak Trees|Types of Locust Trees|Types of Christmas Trees|Types of Redbud Trees
