Ulmus villosa (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 25m
Eventual Spread: 20m
Hardiness: 5a – 9a
Family: Ulmaceae
Ulmus villosa is a long lived deciduous tree. Its mid green leaves are elliptic with serrate margins, up to 11cm long and 5cm broad. Its leaves turn yellow before they fall in autumn. Its branches are slightly pendulous. Its gray bark is smooth with distinctive Cherry like bands when young, fissuring with age. Its hermaphrodite flowers are without petals and are wind pollinated. Its fruit are in the form of sumara, are elliptic and up to 12 cm long.
Ulmus villosa Autumn Leaf (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Ulmus villosa, commonly known as the Cherry Bark Elm, is native to the north west and western Himalaya. This species of Elm has a low susceptibility to Dutch Elm Disease.
The etymological root of the binomial name Ulmus is from the Latin name for the Elm tree. Villosa is from the Latin meaning ‘velvet’.
The landscape architect may find Ulmus villosa useful as an Elm tree with a moderate resistance to Dutch Elm Disease. It has fantastic autumn color.
Ulmus villosa Bark (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Ulmus villosa seeds are attractive to some birds.
Ulmus villosa prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Ulmus villosa requires little maintenance.