• Photo of Ulmus glabra (Ulmus glabras)

Plant Profile: Ulmus glabra

Taxonomy: Ulmus glabra

Names

Scotch Elm, Scot's Elm, Wych Elm

  • Photo of Ulmus glabra (Ulmus glabras)

Phonetic Spelling:ULM-us GLAY-bruh

Genus:Ulmus

Species:glabra

Family:Ulmaceae

The wych elm is a sizable shade tree that thrives in organically rich, moist, well-drained loamy soil and requires full sunlight. It features a broad, rounded crown and can reach heights of 70 to 100 feet. Unfortunately, due to its vulnerability to Dutch Elm disease, it is no longer commonly planted in the United States, although some specimens can still be found in botanical gardens.

This tree faces various challenges from pests and diseases. Insects that may infest it include beetles, borers, caterpillars, leaf miners, mealybugs, and scale insects. Additionally, it is prone to several diseases, such as Dutch elm disease, phloem necrosis, wet wood, cankers, wilts, and rots.

Ulmus glabra Feature Summary

Ulmus glabra Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#shade tree
#drought tolerant
#specimen
#large tree
#air pollution tolerant
#street tree
#lawn tree
#deciduous tree
#dendrology
#disease problems

Similar Plants

Ulmus glabra Feature Summary

Attributes
Fruit
Flat, papert samara with 1 seed appear in spring to summer
Green
Brown/Copper
< 1 inch
Flowers
Reddish green non-showy flowers appear in early to mid spring before leaves.
Red/Burgundy
Green
Leaves
Dark green, rough leaves 3"-6" long. Simple, alternate, doubly dentate margins, oblong to elliptic with asymmetrical base and acuminate tip. Leaves turn yellow in the fall but the color is insignificant.
Elliptical
Oblong
Doubly Dentate
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Bark
Bark gray, smooth, furrowed with age.
Dark Gray
Stem
Twigs ash-gray to red-brown. Bud scales overlap.
Enclosed in more than 2 scales
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
more than 60 feet
Mountains
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Shade Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Frequent Disease Problems

Ulmus glabra Attributes

Ulmus glabra: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe, Western Asia

Ulmus glabra: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ulmus glabra Fruit

Ulmus glabra: Fruit Description

Flat, papert samara with 1 seed appear in spring to summer

Ulmus glabra: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Ulmus glabra: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Green

Ulmus glabra: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Ulmus glabra: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ulmus glabra: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ulmus glabra Flowers

Ulmus glabra: Flower Description

Reddish green non-showy flowers appear in early to mid spring before leaves.

Ulmus glabra: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Ulmus glabra: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Ulmus glabra: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Ulmus glabra Leaves

Ulmus glabra: Leaf Description

Dark green, rough leaves 3"-6" long. Simple, alternate, doubly dentate margins, oblong to elliptic with asymmetrical base and acuminate tip. Leaves turn yellow in the fall but the color is insignificant.

Ulmus glabra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ulmus glabra: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Ulmus glabra: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Ulmus glabra: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Ulmus glabra: 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

Ulmus glabra: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Ulmus glabra: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ulmus glabra: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ulmus glabra: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Ulmus glabra: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ulmus glabra Bark

Ulmus glabra: Bark Description

Bark gray, smooth, furrowed with age.

Ulmus glabra: Bark Color

grass
Dark Gray

Ulmus glabra: Surface/Attachment

Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy

Ulmus glabra Stem

Ulmus glabra: Stem Description

Twigs ash-gray to red-brown. Bud scales overlap.

Ulmus glabra: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ulmus glabra: Stem Bud Scales

Enclosed in 2 scales
Enclosed in a single cap like scale
Enclosed in more than 2 scales
No scales, covered in hair

Ulmus glabra Whole Plant Traits

Ulmus glabra: 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

Ulmus glabra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ulmus glabra: 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

Ulmus glabra: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Ulmus glabra: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Ulmus glabra: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Ulmus glabra Cultural Conditions

Ulmus glabra: 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)

Ulmus glabra: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Ulmus glabra: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Ulmus glabra: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Ulmus glabra: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b

Ulmus glabra: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Ulmus glabra Landscape

Ulmus glabra: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Ulmus glabra: 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

Ulmus glabra: 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

Ulmus glabra: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Ulmus glabra: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy