Summary ³

Ulmus pumila, the Siberian elm, is a tree native to Central Asia, eastern Siberia, the Russian Far East, Mongolia, Tibet, northern China, India (northern Kashmir) and Korea. It is also known as the Asiatic elm and dwarf elm, but sometimes miscalled the 'Chinese Elm' (Ulmus parvifolia). It is the last tree species encountered in the semi-desert regions of central Asia.

Description ⁴

Family:
Ulmaceae (Elm)

Height:
30 to 80 feet at maturity

Habit:
Single-stemmed tree; Open, irregular crown; DBH up to 3’; Fast growing

Leaves:
Leaves (up to 2½” long and 1¼” wide) are dark green, alternately attached, and ovate with pointed tips and serrated edges. Leaves appear significantly smaller than those of Minnesota's native elm species.

Bark:
Bark is gray-brown, becoming gray with age, and deeply furrowed, sometimes revealing an inner layer of orange bark.

Flower:
Floral buds are round, slightly hairy, and purple-brown, developing into dangling clusters of 3-15 pom-pom-like, brownish-red, petalless flowers (individual flowers up to ⅛” across). Individual flowers have 4-8 black and yellow stamens emerging on whitish translucent stalks, and a single flattened, tan-colored pistil with a divided head.

Fruit:
Seeds (up to ½” across), known as samaras, are flat, round, papery, winged, and light green in color, and become tan or cream-colored with maturity.

Bloom time:
March-May

Fall color:
Golden yellow

Nicknames:
Chinese Elm

Habitat:
Siberian Elm thrives in partial shade to full sun, moist to dry conditions, and disturbed soils, so long as they are not acidic. It is commonly found in urban landscapes, open fields and meadows, open disturbed woodlands, waste areas, vacant lots, and along roadsides, railroads, and buildings.

Wildlife Benefits:
Seeds are a food source for gamebirds, songbirds, squirrels, and chipmunks. Broken branches provide nesting cavities for birds and squirrels. Foliage is a food source for many species of insects.

Notes:
Siberian Elm is resistant to Dutch Elm Disease (DED). This species is also susceptible to storm damage, especially from ice, posing the risk of injury or property damage resulting from falling branches.

References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/tree/siberian-elm
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/sb_elm.html
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ulmus-pumila/

Range ⁴

Sources and Credits

1. no rights reserved, uploaded by Robb Hannawacker
2. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, all rights reserved, uploaded by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
3. Adapted by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulmus_pumila
4. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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