How to identify Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)

How to identify Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)

Siberian elm, also known as Smooth-leaved elm, Dwarf elm

Siberian elm reaches an impressive stature of 50 to 70 feet (15 to 21 meters) in height with a breadth of 35 to 50 feet (11 to 15 meters), featuring a distinctive vase-shaped crown. The bark exhibits a dark gray hue in mature specimens, complemented by silvery-gray twigs. Its leaves are distinctive; they are alternately arranged, simple, with a doubly serrate margin and an oblique, ovate to lanceolate shape. The topside of the leaves is a darker green, while the underside is a paler green. In early spring, siberian elm produces inconspicuous drooping clusters of light green to reddish flowers, followed by a distinctive fruit in the form of a winged samara, round and ranging from 0.5 to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 cm) in diameter, maturing to a hard, brown finish. Winter reveals large, glossy black buds.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Siberian elm

Distinctive vase-shaped crown at 50-70 feet (15-21 meters) height and 35-50 feet (11-15 meters) breadth.

Oblique, ovate to lanceolate leaves with doubly serrate margins; dark green above, pale green below.

Inconspicuous drooping flowers in light green to reddish clusters before leaf bloom.

Round, winged samara fruit of 0.5-1 inch (1.27-2.54 cm) diameter maturing to hard brown.

Silver-gray zig-zag stem with scattered lenticels and winter buds; distinctive bark texture and coloration.

Detailed Traits of Siberian elm

Leaf Features

The leaves of siberian elm are dark green on the upper surface and light green on the lower. They feature doubly serrate margins and are oblique, with one side of the leaf blade larger than the other. Measuring 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) in length, they are oval to lanceolate in shape. A notable characteristic is their yellow color during fall. Their vein pattern is prominent, with a slightly rough texture on the upper side and smoother underneath.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Apex

Acuminate

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Flower Features

The flowers of siberian elm develop in drooping clusters between March and May. They are perfect flowers capable of self-pollination, distinctively light green to reddish in color. They appear in small clusters of two to five and bloom before the leaves develop. Each flower is not particularly showy but is crucial for identification. These unique characteristics make the flowers of siberian elm identifiable by their early blooming period and the coloration ranging from green to reddish hues.

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Stem Features

The stem of siberian elm is characterized by its silver-gray color and zig-zag form. It can be either glabrous or pubescent and is unwinged, lacking a corky layer. The stem is adorned with scattered lenticels, enhancing its unique texture. Winter buds on the stem are round to oval, with a dark brown to red-brown hue. These features contribute to the stem's distinct appearance, making it an important factor in identifying siberian elm.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of siberian elm is a hard, dry samara with a wing-like structure that facilitates wind dispersal. Each samara is round and encapsulates a single seed, measuring around 0.5 to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 cm) in diameter. The surface of the fruit is a nondescript brown hue. Characteristically, these fruits cluster together but are not known for attracting wildlife or being particularly ornamental.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Siberian elm and Their Similar Plants

American elm vs. Siberian elm: What's The Difference?

American elm (Ulmus americana) is a deciduous hermaphroditic tree which can be found in a variety of habitats - swamps, low-laying lands, areas surrounding rivers, hillsides, and highlands. It was a very dominant tree species in North America before Dutch elm disease was introduced during the first half of the 20th century, which caused massive die-offs.

Chinese elm vs. Siberian elm: What's The Difference?

Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) is a small, deciduous elm tree native to China, Japan, North Korea, and Vietnam. This tree is considered to have the hardest wood of all elm tree species. Commercially, its wood is used to make baseball bats, bows, and the handles of tools. Ornamentally, the chinese elm is used in landscaping in areas with a good amount of full sunlight.

Field elm vs. Siberian elm: What's The Difference?

A common use for field elm (Ulmus minor) and other types of elm trees is for their wood, which has an interlocking grain and is therefore resistant to splitting. This tree has a distinctive crown, and you can tell it apart from the similar wych elm by noting the fact that its shoots are more slender.

Winged elm vs. Siberian elm: What's The Difference?

Winged elm (Ulmus alata) is a tree species native to the southern United States that's also known as the wahoo. This is a slow growing species of plant that is particularly resistant to herbicides.

Wych elm vs. Siberian elm: What's The Difference?

You don't see wych elm (Ulmus glabra) much anymore because Dutch elm disease wiped out much of its population. The caterpillar form of the white-letter hairstreak butterfly depends on this tree for nutritional sustenance, so it's also in decline. In medieval magical beliefs, elm trees supposedly had the power to give you prophetic dreams.

Slippery elm vs. Siberian elm: What's The Difference?

Slippery elm is an elm tree native to North America that grows throughout the United States and Canada in both dry and moist soils. The inner bark has a slippery texture that gives the tree its name. Though not often used in carpentry, the wood is fibrous and can be turned into excellent twine or rope. This species is susceptible to damage by the elm leaf beetle.

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Key Facts About Siberian elm

Attributes of Siberian elm

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree

Plant Height

25 m

Spread

12 m to 21 m

Leaf Color

Green

Blue

Yellow

Flower Size

3 mm

Flower Color

Red

Fruit Color

Green

Cream

Tan

Stem Color

Yellow

Green

Silver

Leaf type

Deciduous

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Scientific Classification of Siberian elm

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Roses, elms, figs, and allies

Family

Elm

Genus

Elms

Species

Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)

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Distribution Map of Siberian elm

The siberian elm is native to Central Asia, southern Siberia and Korea. Within its natural range, this tree occurs in grasslands and disturbed areas. The species has been introduced to much of North America, Europe, as well as South America. It is considered a noxious weed in many US states, where it invades disturbed sites and waste areas.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Siberian elm

A Comprehensive Guide to Siberian elm How to Grow and Care for Siberian elm