Ulmus rubra

Common Names

Slippery Elm, Red Elm, Soft Elm, Gray Elm, Orme Rouge

Summary

Slippery elm is a native North American deciduous tree, typically 60–80 feet tall with an open, broad crown and a trunk about 1–3 feet in diameter. Bark ranges from brown to reddish-brown and is deeply furrowed; inner bark is mucilaginous and slippery when chewed, giving the tree its common name. Leaves are alternate, obovate to ovate, about 4–6 inches long with doubly serrate margins; the upper surface is dark green and rough, the underside paler and hairy. Flowers appear in dense clusters before the leaves in early spring and are wind-pollinated; fruits are rounded samaras, about 1/4–3/4 inch across, with a papery wing. Native to eastern Canada and broad regions of the United States, it grows best on moist, rich soils along streams and floodplains, but tolerates a range of soil types and moisture levels, and is relatively shade-tolerant, often occurring in the subcanopy. For cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade and fertile, moist soils; hardiness zones 3–9 are noted. It reproduces by seed, stump sprouts, or layering and can form patches via root crown sprouting. Uses include wood for furniture, crates, barrels, veneer, and other lumber, with the inner bark historically used for medicinal preparations by Native Americans. Wildlife depend on it for habitat and food, with seeds eaten by birds and other animals; however, it is susceptible to Dutch elm disease and elm phloem necrosis, which limit its use in landscapes.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

40-80 feet

Spread

50 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun, tolerates Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loam or clay-loam soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soils

Soil pH

6.0-8.0, Neutral pH, Tolerates acidic or alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring (February–May)

Foliage Color

Green, upper surface dark green and lower surface paler

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderately fast growth

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Layering, Stump sprouts, Rhizome sprouts

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, moths, and birds