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Ulmus rubra
Ulmus rubra Muhl.
Slippery Elm, Red Elm, Gray Elm, Soft Elm
Ulmaceae (Elm Family)
Synonym(s): Ulmus fulva
USDA Symbol: ULRU
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
A 40-60 ft., sometimes taller, tree with a somewhat vase-shaped outline. Branchlets are less pendulous than U. americana. Dark green, rough leaves with fuzzy undersides. Tree with broad, open, flat-topped crown of spreading branches and large rough leaves.
The thick, slightly fragrant, edible, gluelike inner bark is dried and afterwards moistened for use as a cough medicine or as a poultice. This "slippery" inner bark (found by chewing through the outer bark of a twig) is helpful in identification. The Latin species name refers to the large brown buds covered with rust-colored hairs.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Obovate , Ovate
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Double-serrate , Serrate
Leaf Apex: Acuminate
Leaf Base: Oblique
Fruit Type: Samara
Size Notes: Up to about 110 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Yellow , Green , BrownBloom Time: Jan , Dec
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WVCanada: ON , QC
Native Distribution: S.w. ME through extreme s. Que. & Ont., to s.e. ND, s. to n.w. FL, GA & c. TX
Native Habitat: Rich bottomlands; stream banks; idle ground
Growing Conditions
Water Use: HighLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Moist, rich to dry, limestone soils.
Conditions Comments: Susceptible to Dutch elm disease. Considered weedy as it tends to infest hedges, fence rows and other idle gournd.
Benefit
Use Medicinal: The moist inner bark is the source of the well-known slippery elm ingredient used in throat lozenges.Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Mourning Cloak, Columbia silkmoth
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis) Adult Food Source |
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) Larval Host |
Columbia silkmoth (Hyalophora columbia) Larval Host |
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FAC | FAC | FACU | FAC | FAC | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Bibliography
Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Ulmus rubra in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ulmus rubra in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ulmus rubra
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-09-26Research By: TWC Staff