Plant Profile: Ulmus x 'Cathedral'

Names

Cathedral Elm

  • Photo of Ulmus x 'Cathedral' (Ulmus x 'Cathedral's)

Phonetic Spelling:ULM-us

Genus:Ulmus

Species:

Family:Ulmaceae

Cathedral Elm is a hybrid tree cultivated at the University of Wisconsin through the crossbreeding of Japanese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) and Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila). This tree features a broad, vase-like form and exhibits strong resistance to Dutch elm disease, elm leaf beetles, and various leaf-cutting insects. To ensure a robust structure, it requires consistent pruning during its first 15 years of growth.

This species is adaptable to a range of soil types, pH levels, pollution, and salt exposure. Its dense canopy and upright, spreading growth habit make it an excellent choice for providing shade or as a street tree.

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Feature Summary

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#shade tree
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#tree
#street tree
#fast growing
#spreading
#resistant to Dutch Elm Disease
#poor soils tolerant

Similar Plants

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' is often confused with:

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Feature Summary

Fruit
Flat papery samara with 1 seed
Flowers
Seperate male and female flowers in spring are insignificant clusters
Leaves
Large green leaves with serrated margins and pointed tips. Fall color is yellow.
Elliptical
> 6 inches
3-6 inches
Attributes
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Shade Tree
Street Tree
Drought
Urban Conditions
Diseases
Songbirds
Small Mammals

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Fruit

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Fruit Description

Flat papery samara with 1 seed

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Fruit Type

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

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Flowers

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Flower Description

Seperate male and female flowers in spring are insignificant clusters

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Leaves

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Leaf Description

Large green leaves with serrated margins and pointed tips. Fall color is yellow.

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Orange

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Leaf Type

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

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': 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 x 'Cathedral': Leaf Margin

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

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Leaf Length

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

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Leaf Width

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

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Attributes

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Whole Plant Traits

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': 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 x 'Cathedral': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': 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 x 'Cathedral': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Cultural Conditions

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': 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 x 'Cathedral': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Soil Drainage

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

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Stem

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ulmus x 'Cathedral' Landscape

Ulmus x 'Cathedral': 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 x 'Cathedral': 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 x 'Cathedral': 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 x 'Cathedral': Attracts

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