Planera aquatica: Country Or Region Of Origin
SE USA
Plant Profile: Planera aquatica
Taxonomy: Planera aquaticaNames
Water Elm
Phonetic Spelling:PLAN-er-uh a-KWA-te-kuh
Genus:Planera
Species:aquatica
Family:Ulmaceae
The water elm is a deciduous tree indigenous to the elm family, characterized by its slow growth and impressive longevity. This species thrives in moist, sandy, or gravelly soils found in floodplains and swampy regions. Typically, the water elm manifests as a large shrub or a small tree, often featuring multiple stems, a short trunk, and a broad, spreading crown.
Classified as an Obligate Wetland Species (OBL), the water elm predominantly inhabits wetland areas in its natural environment.
Planera aquatica Feature Summary
Planera aquatica Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#shrub
#slow growing
#wetlands
#wet sites
#NC native
#single trunk
#swamps
#long lifespan
#obligate-wetland
#Braham Arboretum
#OBL
#wet soils tolerant
#bog gardens
Similar Plants
Planera aquatica Feature Summary
Attributes
AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX
Dutch elm disease
Woody
Fruit
The 1/2 inch fruit is a stalked leathery drupe with fleshy burr-like projections.
Drupe
Black
Spring
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Flowers
Flowers are very small with curling fuzzy stigmas.
Green
Insignificant
Spring
Leaves
1 to 3 inches long, 1/2 to 1 inch wide, dark green above, paler below. Bases usually unequal.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Deltoid
Serrate
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Bark
Scaly, shredding, patchy and grayish-brown, some reddish where bark exfoliates.
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Dark Brown
Light Brown
Red/Burgundy
Shredding
Exfoliating
Patchy
Stem
Redish to gray-brown stems have hairs when young but become smooth with age.
Smooth (glabrous)
Zig Zags
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Deciduous
Multi-trunked
Spreading
Vase
Slow
Low
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water
Occasional Flooding
Coastal
Piedmont
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Planera aquatica Image Gallery
Planera aquatica Attributes
Planera aquatica: Distribution
AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX
Planera aquatica: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Dutch elm disease
Planera aquatica: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Planera aquatica Fruit
Planera aquatica: Fruit Description
The 1/2 inch fruit is a stalked leathery drupe with fleshy burr-like projections.
Planera aquatica: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Planera aquatica: Fruit Color
Black
Planera aquatica: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Planera aquatica: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Planera aquatica: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Planera aquatica Flowers
Planera aquatica: Flower Description
Flowers are very small with curling fuzzy stigmas.
Planera aquatica: Flower Color
Green
Planera aquatica: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Planera aquatica: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Planera aquatica Leaves
Planera aquatica: Leaf Description
1 to 3 inches long, 1/2 to 1 inch wide, dark green above, paler below. Bases usually unequal.
Planera aquatica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Planera aquatica: Leaf Color
Green
Planera aquatica: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Planera aquatica: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Planera aquatica: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Planera aquatica: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Planera aquatica: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Planera aquatica: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Planera aquatica: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Planera aquatica Bark
Planera aquatica: Bark Description
Scaly, shredding, patchy and grayish-brown, some reddish where bark exfoliates.
Planera aquatica: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Light Brown
Light Gray
Red/Burgundy
Planera aquatica: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Planera aquatica Stem
Planera aquatica: Stem Description
Redish to gray-brown stems have hairs when young but become smooth with age.
Planera aquatica: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Planera aquatica: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Planera aquatica: Stem Form
Straight
Zig Zags
Planera aquatica Whole Plant Traits
Planera aquatica: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Planera aquatica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Planera aquatica: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Planera aquatica: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Planera aquatica: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Planera aquatica Cultural Conditions
Planera aquatica: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Planera aquatica: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Planera aquatica: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Planera aquatica: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Planera aquatica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Planera aquatica: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Planera aquatica Landscape
Planera aquatica: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Planera aquatica: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Planera aquatica: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
