Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands
Plant Characteristics
Growth Form
Tree
Height
72
to
100
ft.
Spread
40
to
70
ft.
Leaf Retention
Deciduous
Lifespan
Perennial
Habitat and Care Requirements
Soil Type(s)
Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained, Moist
Light Requirement
Sun, Part Shade
Water Requirement
Medium, High
Native Habitat
Woodland, Wetland or Riparian
Bloom and Attraction
Bloom Color
Red, Green
Bloom Season
Spring
Seasonal Interest
Fall Color, Seeds, Larval Host
Wildlife Benefit
Butterflies, Birds, Moths
Maintenance
Low maintenance. Fast growth rate. Wonderful large shade tree that supports a variety of wildlife. Likes moist soils, but will tolerate periods of drought. Leaves provide golden fall color. Subject to Dutch Elm disease. Propagation: seed.
Comments
A large, graceful tree, with many spreading branches, forming a very broad, rounded, flat-topped or vase-like crown. Oval to elliptical leaves, pointed at the tip, strongly asymmetrical at the base, margins coarsely doubly toothed. Small, hairy flowers occur in drooping clusters of 3-4, appearing before the leaves. The fruit a one-seeded, narrowly winged samara. Larval host: Morning Cloak, Columbia Silkmoth, Question Mark, Painted Lady, Comma butterflies.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Ulmus americana var. floridana, Ulmus floridana
References
1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48, 53. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 347. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ULAM. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Ulmus+americana&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=23682&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19049#null
