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Ulmus laevis

Ulmus laevis

European white elm, fluttering elm, spreading elm, stately elm, Russian elm

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Description

Ulmus laevis (European white elm or fluttering elm) is one of the three elm species native to Europe, with a natural range stretching from central France to the Ural Mountains and the Balkans. The species grows on rich, moist soils in cool floodplain forests, especially along streams and in river floodplains such as those of the Rhine, Elbe, and Danube. It commonly occurs alongside species such as Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, and Alnus glutinosa. Ulmus laevis grows very vigorously, forming a semi-open, oval to rounded, irregular crown that reaches twenty-five to thirty-five meters in height and ten to twenty meters in width.

The large, glossy, dark green leaves are asymmetrical and double-serrated, borne on long twigs, and turn yellow in autumn. Ulmus laevis is an important host plant for butterflies such as the white-letter hairstreak and the comma butterfly. In March and April, the tree flowers with clusters of red, bell-shaped blossoms on long stalks. The flat nutlets that develop afterwards also hang in clusters on long pedicels. These characteristic fruits are covered with fine hairs that allow them to float, enabling dispersal by water. The bark of the European white elm is gray and deeply grooved, and trees growing in wet locations often develop buttress roots.

The European white elm is largely unaffected by Dutch elm disease, as the elm bark beetle does not favor this species. It is a classic landscape tree that can become very large, though its fast growth historically also led to its use as coppice or as a pollarded tree. While it thrives best in wet habitats along streams and rivers, Ulmus laevis can also develop into a strong and attractive tree on a wide range of soil types in drier conditions, in paved areas, and in urban environments.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees multi-stemmed trees shade trees characteristic trees

Use

Location

avenue park large garden countryside ecological zone windbreak bioswale coastal area

Pavement

none none open open sealed sealed

Planting concepts

eco planting landscape planting solid planting

Characteristics

Crown shape

rounded rounded wide oval wide oval

Crown structure

semi-open semi-open

Height

25 - 35 m

Width

10 - 20 m

Winter hardiness zone

5A - 8B

Aspects

Wind

tolerant to wind tolerant to coastal wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay peaty light clay sand loamy soil

Nutrient level

moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

dry moist wet

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic neutral alkaline

Host plant/forage plant

butterflies

Extreme environments

tolerant to salt spray tolerant to short-term flooding limited to rare infestation by lice resistant to dutch elm disease 3

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Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Ulmus laevis? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
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Photos

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high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis standard tree
multi-stem multi-stem
Ulmus laevis multi-stem
flowers flowers
Ulmus laevis flowers
flowers flowers
Ulmus laevis flowers
flowers flowers
Ulmus laevis flowers
leaves leaves
Ulmus laevis leaves
leaves leaves
Ulmus laevis leaves
leaves leaves
Ulmus laevis leaves
leaves leaves
Ulmus laevis leaves
leaves leaves
Ulmus laevis leaves
fruits fruits
Ulmus laevis fruits
fruits fruits
Ulmus laevis fruits
fruits fruits
Ulmus laevis fruits
fruits fruits
Ulmus laevis fruits
fruits fruits
Ulmus laevis fruits
bark bark
Ulmus laevis bark
bark bark
Ulmus laevis bark
bark bark
Ulmus laevis bark
bark bark
Ulmus laevis bark
bark bark
Ulmus laevis bark
twigs twigs
Ulmus laevis twigs
twigs twigs
Ulmus laevis twigs

Flowers

Flowers

raceme bell-shaped discrete pendulous small

Flower colour

red-violet

Flowering period

March - April

Leaves

Leaf colour

green

Leaves

deciduous ovate big polished doubly serrate

Autumn colour

yellow

Fruits

Fruit colour

brown

Fruits

winged raceme nut

Bark

Bark colour

grey-brown

Bark

furrowed buttress roots

Twigs

Twig colour

pale brown

Twigs

bare vertical branches long shoots

Root system

Root system

shallow extensive fleshy roots clinging aerial roots on own root

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Use
Location
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OK
Planting concepts
OK
Types of planting
Tree types
OK
Multi-stemmed trees
OK
Crown structure
OK
Crown shape
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Topiary on stem
OK
Topiary
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Height
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m
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Width
m
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m
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Aspects
Wind
OK
Soil
OK
Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
OK
Light requirements
OK
PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
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December
OK
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Autumn colour
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Winter hardiness

A plant's winter hardiness is the coldest area in which it is frost-resistant. This is based on the average annual minimum temperature. Winter hardiness zones are thirteen different frost zones in steps of 5.5 degrees Celsius. This format is an international standard for the hardiness of plants. The zones in which the plant is frost-resistant are always included in the description of trees and other vegetation.

Winter hardiness is a genetic characteristic and is not influenced by the location in which the plant is cultivated. This means that a plant that has been cultivated for many years in winter-hardiness zone 6 but has a winter hardiness of 3 is perfectly suited for replanting in a colder zone. It will thrive there thanks to its genetic characteristics.

When choosing planting for a project, the winter hardiness of the plants is extremely important. By choosing species that match the zone in which the project is being created, it is possible to ensure that plants can withstand the minimum temperature in that area.

Winter hardiness map
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