Wych Elm
Irish Name - Leamhán sléibhe
Family - Ulmaceae
Characteristics
- A mature wych elm can grow to a height of 40m (120ft) and casts a heavy shade.
- 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 smoke.
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.