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Ulmus glabra - Huds.

Common Name Wych Elm, Table-top Scotch Elm, Scotch Elm
Family Ulmaceae
USDA hardiness 5-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Woods, hedges and by streams, commoner in the west and north[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, north and west Asia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Ulmus glabra Wych Elm,  Table-top Scotch Elm, Scotch  Elm


Ulmus glabra Wych Elm,  Table-top Scotch Elm, Scotch  Elm

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Green. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late fall, Mid fall. Form: Rounded, Weeping.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Ulmus glabra is a deciduous Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from February to March, and the seeds ripen from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

U. campestre. pro parte. U. montana. U. scabra.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Inner bark  Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[179, K]. They can be a little bit bitter, especially if not very young, and have a mucilaginous texture[K]. They make a nice addition to a mixed salad[K]. Immature fruits, used just after they are formed, can be eaten raw[132]. An aromatic, unusual flavour, leaving the mouth feeling fresh and the breath smelling pleasant[132]. They contain about 34.4% protein, 28.2% fat, 17% carbohydrate, 5% ash[179]. The fruit is about 2.5cm long[200]. Inner bark - mucilaginous[179]. No more details are given but inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent  Bach  Demulcent  Diuretic  Eczema  Homeopathy

The inner bark is astringent, demulcent and mildly diuretic[9]. It is used both internally and externally in the treatment of diarrhoea, rheumatism, wounds, piles etc and is also used as a mouthwash in the treatment of ulcers[4, 9, 66]. The inner bark is harvested from branches 3 - 4 years old and is dried for later use[9]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Occasional feelings of inadequacy', 'Despondency' and 'Exhaustion from over-striving for perfection'[209]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the inner bark[9]. It is used in the treatment of eczema[9].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fibre  Wood

A fibre from the inner bark is used for mats and making ropes[100]. Wood - very durable under water, fairly hard, elastic, withstands abrasion and salt water. Used for water pipes, wheels, mallet heads, ships keels etc[46, 61, 67, 100].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Specimen. Easily grown in any soil of at least moderate quality so long as it is well drained[1]. Prefers a deep or heavy soil that is moist but not waterlogged and does not thrive if the soil is markedly acid[186]. Moderately shade tolerant[186]. Very wind resistant and tolerant of maritime exposure[186]. Trees cast a dense shade[186]. Rarely produces suckers but responds well to coppicing[186]. The wych elm is subject to 'Dutch elm disease' (though less so than U. procera), a disease that has destroyed the greater part of all the elm trees growing in Britain. Mature trees killed back by the disease will often regrow from suckers, but these too will succumb when they get larger. There is no effective cure (1992) for the problem, but most E. Asian, though not Himalayan, species are resistant to the disease so the potential exists to develop new resistant hybrids with the native species. The various species hybridize freely, the pollen stores well and can be kept for use with species that flower at different times. A very ornamental tree[1], it is a food plant for the caterpillars of many lepidoptera species[30]. A good tree for growing grapes into[18]. Special Features: Not North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - if sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe, it usually germinates within a few days[200]. Stored seed does not germinate so well and should be sown in early spring[200]. The seed can also be harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it dries on the tree) and sown immediately in a cold frame. It should germinate very quickly and will produce a larger plant by the end of the growing season[80]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Plants should not be allowed to grow for more than two years in a nursery bed since they form a tap root and will then move badly. Layering of suckers or coppiced shoots[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Iran, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation (Chelyabinsk) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Ulmus alataWinged ElmTree15.0 6-9 FLMHSNM202
Ulmus americanaAmerican Elm, Gray Elm, Water ElmTree25.0 3-9 MLMHSNM223
Ulmus davidianaJapanese ElmTree15.0 4-8  LMHSNM201
Ulmus japonicaJapanese ElmTree35.0 4-8  LMHSNM211
Ulmus laciniata Tree10.0 4-8  LMHSNM20 
Ulmus macrocarpa Tree10.0 4-8  LMHSNDM211
Ulmus parvifoliaChinese Elm, Lacebark ElmTree18.0 5-10 MLMHSNM212
Ulmus proceraEnglish ElmTree35.0 5-9 FLMHSNM323
Ulmus pumilaSiberian Elm, Hybrid elmTree15.0 4-9 FLMHSNDM223
Ulmus rubraSlippery ElmTree20.0 3-7 MLMHSNM253
Ulmus thomasiiRock ElmTree30.0 - SLMHSNM102
Ulmus villosaCherry Bark ElmTree25.0 4-8  LMHSNM102
Ulmus wallichiana Tree35.0 5-9  LMHSNM113

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Huds.

Botanical References

1117200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Seyed Jalil Alavi   Tue Jan 8 2008

A guide to the plant types, pollen and ecosystems of Northen Europe

Torjus Gaaren   Wed Jul 30 2008

No need to destroy the fibres by boiling for getting the sap. What I do is that I take the fresh or reconstituted bark and wring out the juices. It will come as an almost syrupy liquid and very sweet. It can be repeated several times until all the sap is has been extracted. Then, soak the fibres in a stream for a few days to rinse out the rest and you can use the fibres right away.

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Subject : Ulmus glabra  
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