Slippery Elm

  • Leaves

    Leaves

  • Flower

    Flower

  • Seeds

    Seeds

  • Bark

    Bark

    Specifications

    • Latin (scientific) name: Ulmus rubra. Rubra is Latin for red, referring to the rusty or reddish brown buds.
    • Life expectancy: 150 years
    • Special characteristics:

      This is a sturdy tree. It grows best in wet soils, especially in floodplain areas. Its wood is tough, like all of the elm trees. Dead branches can stay attached to the tree for long periods of time.

    • Annoyance factors:

      This tree is susceptible to Dutch elm disease, which is spread by two varieties of the elm bark beetle. The disease is fatal.

    • Fun Facts:

      The Slippery Elm is named for an attribute of its inner bark: it’s slimy and slippery. The bark was once used as a medicine for scurvy. People would chew the inner bark or grind it into flour.

    • Photo Credits:

      Bark: Rob Routledge, Bugwood.org
      Leaves: Paul Wray, Bugwood.org
      Flowers: Steven J. Baskauf, Vanderbilt University Bioimages
      Seeds: Steven J. Baskauf, Vanderbilt University Bioimages