Siberian Elm
Ulmus pumila · Deciduous broadleaf
Plant Family
Ulmaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Invasive Weed Tree
Variety / Cultivar
None (Wild/Species type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-9; exceptionally cold hardy and heat tolerant.
About This Tree
An aggressive, fast-growing deciduous tree with an open, irregular, and often shrub-like rounded crown when young. It is highly adaptable to harsh conditions and often considered a 'weed tree' due to its prolific seeding and brittle wood.
Leaf Characteristics
Small, simple, alternate leaves about 0.8 to 2.5 inches long. They are elliptic to lanceolate with a nearly symmetrical base (unlike many other elms) and singly serrate margins. Deep green during summer, turning yellow in fall.
Bark Characteristics
Young bark is smooth and light gray; matures into a dark gray or brown bark with rough, irregular furrows and flat-topped ridges.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Eastern Asia (Siberia, China, Korea) and naturalized across North America
Growing Season
Leafs out very early in spring (often among the first trees), flowers late winter to early spring before leaves, seeds ripen by late spring, dormant in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred; highly drought-tolerant once established and thrives in almost any soil type including poor, alkaline, or compacted soils.
Mature Size
Height of 50 to 70 feet with a spread of 35 to 50 feet; extremely fast growth rate; relatively short-lived (60-100 years).
Special Characteristics
Highly resistant to Dutch Elm Disease (DED), high tolerance to air pollution and road salt, brittle wood prone to storm damage, and invasive tendencies in many US states.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides early spring food for squirrels and birds via its wind-dispersed seeds (samaras). It serves as a larval host for certain butterflies, such as the Question Mark and Mourning Cloak, but can displace native vegetation.