NICE! Plant of the Month
(Ulmus crassifolia)
Description:
Cedar Elm, also known by its Spanish name Olmo, usually grows to a height of 30-60 feet, and has an irregular crown which is taller than broad. Bark is light brown with scaly ridges, and branches may have two opposite corky wings. The small, alternate, ovate leaves are dark green and stiff. They have serrate margins, with a rough upper surface and soft hairs on the under side. Cedar Elm is deciduous, with leaves turning yellow to gold in fall. Small, inconspicuous flowers appear in July-October, and the fruit is a winged seed (samara). Flowering in the fall distinguishes Cedar Elm from other native elms, which flower in the spring. The natural range of Cedar Elm is from New York to South Carolina, and west to Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. It is widespread in Texas, occurring from Northeast and North Central to Central and South Texas, where it is commonly found in woodlands, ravines, and open slopes. Cedar Elm grows moderately fast, especially where there is adequate moisture such as in river bottoms.
Deer Resistance:
When young, Cedar Elm is heavily browsed by deer, and must be protected until the crown grows beyond the deer’s reach. The bark of all tree saplings is subject to damage from bucks rubbing their antlers against the flexible trunks. Therefore, young Cedar Elm should be protected by caging until the trunk reaches a diameter of at least 1” and is rigid, not flexible.
Planting Sites:
Cedar Elm prefers sites with good drainage, but can tolerate seasonally wet conditions. It will tolerate drought, and can survive in medians and patios where it gets reflected heat from pavement. Cedar Elm grows in sand, loam, clay, caliche, and limestone. It may be planted in full sun to part shade. Do not plant in or near flower beds, as Cedar Elm reseeds prolifically.
Planting Instructions:
Dig a hole 2-5 times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Carefully remove plant from container, taking care not to break the root ball. Loosen exterior roots, if root bound. Position the root ball so the top is level with the surrounding area. Backfill the hole around the root ball with native soil dug from the hole. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball unless the top roots have become exposed due to improper watering. Apply mulch or compost over the root ball and surrounding area. When planting more than one specimen, space plants at least 20 feet apart.
Watering Instructions:
Water in well after planting. An organic-based root stimulator applied according to product directions may be used. Repeat watering a few days after planting. Water deeply every 7-10 days, after checking an inch or two into soil at edge of root ball to determine soil moisture. Skip a watering after a rain of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall after planting. Reduce water during fall and winter. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary in fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be desirable. Cedar Elm is very drought tolerant once established.
Other Care:
Leafy branches are needed to feed the roots of growing trees, so do not prune young trees until the trunk diameter reaches at least 1”. Leaving the lower branches on Cedar Elms is desirable, since they shade the trunk and provide refuge for birds.
NICE! Tip:
Cedar Elm is distinctive as a tall, elegant shade tree with small leaves that turn yellow-gold in fall. Its twiggy branches provide good cover for nesting birds, and its seeds are eaten by turkey and small mammals. Cedar Elm may be planted in place of introduced fast-growing shade trees such as Fruitless Mulberry or Siberian (Chinese) Elm.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.