HYBRID ELMS - Ulmus hybrids

HYBRID ELMS Ulmus hybrids

red Outstanding Features:
Tolerance to Dutch elm disease. Rapid growth rate and adaptability to urban conditions.

Description:
Height: 40-60'
Width: 20-40'
Hardiness Zone: 3b-4b

Breeding efforts have been devoted to incorporating resistance to Dutch elm disease with desirable aesthetic qualities and tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. Several resistant cultivars with considerable merit are now becoming available. These new hybrids may enable the elm to again become an important landscape tree. Several different species have been involved in their breeding so cold hardiness and habits of these hybrids also differ. Many are fairly recent introductions and have not been fully tested.

Requirements and Culture:
As a group, most are well adapted to a broad range of site conditions. They are fairly tolerant of poorly drained soils.

Limitations:
Many of the earlier hybrids did not have the most desirable plant habit. Newer cultivars have better forms but most still do not possess the desired vase shape of the American Elm.

Selected Cultivars:

`Accolade' - is a new disease resistant selection from the Morton Arboretum. It has very glossy, dark green foliage.

`Jacan' - is a selection of U. japonica. The Japanese Elms have a form more similar to the American Elm than most other species. Hardy to zone 3a.

`Sapporo Autumn Gold' - Has an oval crown. One of the first disease resistant cultivars to become available. Form not as good as some of the later introductions. Introduced by the University of Wisconsin.

`Homestead'- was introduced recently by the USDA. It has an oval crown with an upright arching branching habit. Resistant to Dutch elm disease.

`Pioneer' - is a new introduction by the USDA. It is very vigorous and resistant to Dutch elm disease. It has a rounded crown.

`Regal' - has good central leader development with wide branch angles. Introduced by the University of Wisconsin. Resistant to Dutch elm disease.

Photo Credit: 1 K. Warren. Photo is `Homestead'.

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