TreeRM

Siberian elm

Ulmus pumila 路 Ulmaceae 路 also Asiatic elm, Dwarf elm

A fast, scrappy, vase-shaped elm with small doubly serrated leaves, early-spring flowers and papery seeds that blow everywhere and sprout in every crack. It was planted across the Plains and Mountain West for shelterbelts after the Dust Bowl because it survives drought and cold, but it is brittle, short-lived, drops branches in storms, is riddled with elm leaf beetle and seeds aggressively into riverbanks and rangeland. Wisconsin restricts it and New Mexico lists it as a Class C noxious weed; it is often confused with the much better Chinese (lacebark) elm.

Broadleaf, loses its leaves in winterFast growingFull sunLow water
Siberian elm
Famartin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it stands

Native

This tree evolved here, and local wildlife depends on it.

  • 馃嚚馃嚦 China 路 Native to northern China, Mongolia, Siberia, Central Asia and Korea.source

Adapted

Introduced, but it handles this climate and has not shown a habit of spreading.

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 United States 路 Naturalized in nearly every state; widely planted historically in Plains and Mountain West shelterbelts.source

Invasive

It escapes into natural areas and displaces native plants. Check your state's list before buying one.

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 NM, United States 路 Class C noxious weed on the New Mexico Noxious Weed List (widespread; management decided locally).source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 PA, United States 路 On Pennsylvania DCNR's invasive plant fact sheet list.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 VA, United States 路 Virginia DCR Invasive Plant Species List, Low invasiveness rank.source

Prohibited

Selling or planting it is banned here.

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 WI, United States 路 Restricted under Wisconsin NR 40 (except hybrids and rootstock): transport, transfer and introduction require a permit.source

Recommended

A city, utility or extension service lists it among the trees it approves for planting here.

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Dallas, TX, United States 路 On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree Listsource

Care

Not recommended for planting. Existing trees: prune out deadwood regularly, expect elm leaf beetle, cankers, wetwood and storm breakage, and remove seedlings before they establish. Resistant hybrid elms are better shelterbelt choices.

Benefits

Fast canopyDrought tolerantWindbreak

Good for

Windbreak

Watch out for

Invasive elsewhereWeak woodShort livedPest proneHeavy litter