Wych Elm - Ulmus glabra

Irish name - Leamhán sléibhe
Elm, Zelkova, Hackberry family - Ulmaceae

Characteristics

• A mature wych elm can grow to a height of 40m (120ft) and casts a heavy shade and can live for up to 500 years.
• This tree often branches near the base, giving it a spreading dome-shaped outline.
• Its flowers have no petals, forming rounded masses of conspicuous red stamens.
• Pale green winged fruits develop quickly, each with one brown seed.

Season

• The flowers open in late February and March.
• The fruits develop before the leaves expand in late April. They ripen and disperse in late May and early June.
• Heavy crops occur approximately every three years.

Preferred Environment

• Wych elm prefers deep or heavy soils which are moist but not waterlogged.
• It does not thrive where conditions are markedly acid.
• Chiefly a woodland tree, wych elm is moderately shade-tolerant.
• Wych elm is also grown in hedges and beside streams.
• It is hardy, being tolerant of wind and air pollution.

Wildlife Associations

• There are 124 identified insect species that are associated with the wych elm.

Uses

• This medium strength wood is durable for exterior use, especially in wet conditions.
• When available, wych elm wood is still used in boat building for keels, rudders, and the bottoms of canal barges.
• A cut round log makes an excellent chopping block when splitting other logs.
• The wych elm seeds are an important source of food for many animals.

Please remember...

Permission from the landowner - and, if the site holds any kind of designation, from Northern Ireland Environment Agency too - must be sought before collecting plant material (including seeds).