Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

winged elm

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Ulmus alata

Family:

Ulmaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

40-70 ft tall by 30-40 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms early spring. Live span likely less than 100 yrs (Nelson 2003).

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Makes an excellent specimen tree due to the corky wings on its twigs. Older speciments are good shade trees.

Considerations:

Susceptible to the Dutch elm disease  (not a problem in Florida). Has a shallow root system

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed or cuttings.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds

Larval host for the question mark butterfly ( Polygonia interrogationis )

Important early spring food for songbirds.

Native Habitats:

Floodplains, slopes, well-drained forests.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the fibrous inner bark was made into rope for fastening covers of cotton bales. The common and Latin species names refer to the distinctive broad, corky wings present on some twigs.

General Comments:

May need trimming to form a single trunk tree for landscaping.