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Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’

Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’

European white elm 'Helena', fluttering elm 'Helena'

synonym Ulmus laevis 'Eibergen'

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Description

In 2010, Dutch nursery ’t Herenland in Eibergen selected a uniformly growing seedling from a row of old, healthy fluttering elms, which they released on the market in 2014 as Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ (fluttering elm ‘Helena’, synonym Ulmus laevis ‘Eibergen’). ‘Helena’ has a uniform appearance with an upright main trunk, unique for the unruly Ulmus laevis. Fluttering elm ‘Helena’ reaches a height of 20 to 25 metres with a width of around twelve metres, with a semi-open, oval crown.

The name ‘Helena’ comes from the ancient Greek hèlios - meaning ‘sun’ - and in this context stands for ‘the radiant, the glorious’, in reference to the fantastic yellow autumn foliage colour which starts close to the trunk and then the spreads via the branches to the tips. The large, asymmetrical, serrated leaf with coarse teeth emerges light green and changes to matt green in the summer. The fluttering elm is an important host plant for butterflies such as the white-letter hairstreek and comma. The selection blooms in March and April with clusters of red, inconspicuous bellflowers growing on long stems.  The flat, winged nuts are also arranged on long stems and are egg-shaped. Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ has a grey trunk that develops deep grooves; in older trees arbitrary root flares are produced which in wet sites develop into buttress roots. 

Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ is prone to Dutch elm disease - but just like with the species, infections are rare because the elm tree beetle does not favour this tree. Similarly, there are virtually no lice present on the foliage of this elm. Although fluttering elm ‘Helena’ makes an excellent landscape tree for damp to wet sites and even copes well with brief bouts of flooding, dry soil, paving or a spacious growing site in the city are no problem for this cultivar. Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ is also tolerant of coastal wind.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees shade trees characteristic trees

Use

Location

avenue park large garden cemetery 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

20 - 25 m

Width

10 - 12 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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Photos

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high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ standard tree
bark bark
Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ bark
leaves leaves
Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ leaves
twigs twigs
Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ twigs
leaves leaves
Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ leaves
leaves leaves
Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ leaves
twigs twigs
Ulmus laevis ‘Helena’ twigs

Flowers

Flowers

raceme bell-shaped discrete pendulous small

Flower colour

red

Flowering period

March - April

Leaves

Leaf colour

matt green

Leaves

deciduous ovate big matt polished rough doubly serrate

Autumn colour

yellow golden yellow dark yellow

Fruits

Fruit colour

brown

Fruits

discrete winged small 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 highly branched 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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Location
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OK
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Types of planting
Tree types
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Multi-stemmed trees
OK
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m
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Aspects
Wind
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Soil
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Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
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Light requirements
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PH range
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Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
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December
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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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