Siberian Elm
Ulmus pumila · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Invasive
Plant Family
Ulmaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Street Tree, invasive species
Variety / Cultivar
None (Wild type)
Hardiness Zones
3 through 9
About This Tree
A fast-growing, small to medium-sized tree with an open, irregular, often rounded crown. It is known for its extreme hardiness and ability to grow in poor soils and harsh climates where other trees fail.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, small (1 to 3 inches long), elliptical to ovate-lanceolate, alternate arrangement. Color is dark green turning yellow in fall. Margins are singly serrated (unlike the doubly serrated margins common in other elms) with nearly symmetrical bases.
Bark Characteristics
On young trees, bark is smooth and light gray; with maturity, it becomes deeply furrowed with irregular, dark gray-to-black ridges and orange-tinted fissures.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern Siberia, Northern China, Manchuria, and Korea; adapted globally to arid and temperate regions.
Growing Season
Leaves emerge in early spring; flowers appear before leaves in late winter or early spring; seeds ripen in late spring; enters dormancy in late autumn.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun; low water needs once established. Highly drought tolerant and adaptable to various soil moistures, though it prefers well-drained soil.
Mature Size
30 to 60 feet in height with a 35 to 50 foot spread. Rapid growth rate (3+ feet per year) with a relatively short lifespan of 40-60 years.
Special Characteristics
Highly resistant to Dutch Elm Disease; resistant to wind and drought; produces abundant samaras (winged seeds) that allow it to spread aggressively in disturbed areas.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting sites and cover for songbirds; seeds are consumed by birds and small mammals; host plant for several moth species, though often considered an ecological threat in native grasslands due to its invasive nature.