Elm Georgian ornamental trees and shrubs. Small-leaved elm - Ulmus parvifolia. Where does it grow and when does it bloom?

The genus includes 16 species that grow in Europe, Asia, and in the mountains of Asia.

As a rule, this big trees with an elliptical or rounded, spreading crown; with alternate, simple, large, unequal leaves. Elm blossoms before foliage blooms. Elm flowers are small and inconspicuous. The fruits are nuts, ripening 2 weeks after flowering.

Elm does not tolerate shading, but itself gives a thick shade. Growth is relatively fast. Requires fertile soil for growth, but tolerates dry conditions.

Elm tolerates pruning well, with good conditions durable, often damaged by diseases and pests. It has been used in landscaping for a long time. It has been introduced into culture since ancient times and has many garden forms.

Elm smooth, ordinary

Grows in Russia, the Caucasus, Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, Western Europe.

A tree with a wide, beautiful crown and hanging branches. Young shoots are light brown, fluffy, shiny. The bark is brown-brown. The foliage is round or oblong-ovate. Sharply serrated along the edge; dark green above; in autumn they turn brownish-purple. brownish, small flowers, with purple stamens. Flowering lasts about 10 days.

Shade-tolerant, winter-hardy. Growing fast. It tolerates a haircut and retains its shape. Drought tolerant, grows only in fresh, deep soils. In urban conditions, on poor soils, it grows weakly. Looks good in alley and ordinary plantings.

decorative forms : silver motley; golden mottled; red - with reddish foliage; carved - with dissected foliage and recesses between them. Decorative varieties planted singly or in groups.

Elm hornbeam

Homeland is the European part of Russia, Kazakhstan, the Caucasus, Western Europe, Central Asia, North Africa. The hornbeam elm grows in broad-leaved forests.

A tree with a dense crown and dark brown shoots. The foliage is dense, dark green, shiny, variable in shape, glabrous above and hairy below. In autumn it becomes yellow tones. The flowers of the hornbeam elm are small, reddish-brown. The elm blossoms before the leaves open.

Winter-hardy in the steppe and forest-steppe zones. Young shoots freeze. Hornbeam Elm is suitable for southern regions our country. The tree is undemanding to the soil, but grows well only on moist, nutritious soil. It cuts well and keeps its shape. Forms dense hedges. Used in parks and gardens, in masses or groups in combination with other breeds.

Decorative forms differ in the structure of the crown, the color of the leaves:

Webba - with a narrow pyramidal crown, dark green above, ashen below, the leaf is folded like a hood;

Dampier - with broadly ovate foliage and a narrow pyramidal crown;

Koopman - a tree with an ovoid-oval crown;

Pyramidal - with ascending branches and dark green foliage;

weeping - with thin, drooping branches;

spherical - with o round crown, with ovate-elliptical leaves;

Graceful - similar spherical shape, but with small branches and leaves;

Golden - with golden foliage;

Wangutta - with yellow foliage;

purplish - with small purple leaves;

Purple - with dark purple foliage.

Garden forms are not winter-hardy, and need protected places.

thick elm

Grows wild in Central Asia.

Tree 30 m tall, with a broad pyramidal crown. Old branches have dark bark, young shoots have yellowish-brown or gray bark. The foliage is leathery, glabrous, oblong-ovate.

Drought tolerant. The thick elm is used in landscaping in Russia, in alley plantings.

small-leaved elm orsquat

In the wild, it grows in Transbaikalia, the southern and middle parts Far East, in Japan and Korea. Small-leaved elm grows in mixed forests, on fertile soils.

Tree 15 m tall, or shrub with a rounded crown and thin branches. The leaves are small, elliptical, leathery, unequal, with a short apex and a simple or serrated edge, smooth. In spring, the leaves of the small-leaved elm are green. Flowers are collected in bunches. Lionfish are ocher or yellow-brown.

The small-leaved elm is photophilous, it is undemanding to the richness of the soil. It is drought-resistant, perfectly tolerates transplanting, shaping, cutting. In terms of growth rate, the squat elm is not inferior to the ash-leaved maple and white acacia, it is more frost-resistant, tolerates shearing and transplanting well. This type of elm has no root offspring, and this is highly valued in park construction. The small-leaved elm has a weeping shape.

Rough elm

Under natural conditions, it grows in Russia, Central Europe, Scandinavia, Asia Minor. There are in many reserves in Russia, the Caucasus, the Crimea, the Baltic states. Rough elm grows in coniferous-deciduous forests, sometimes on calcareous soils.

A tree with a rounded, wide crown, reaching at optimal conditions 35 m height. The bark on the trunk is brown, the branches are dark brown. The leaves of the rough elm are large, sharp-toothed along the edge, rough on top and stiff-haired below, on short, pubescent petioles; yellowing in autumn. Flowers are collected in bunches. Flowering lasts 5-7 days. Fairly large, green lionfish with a notch at the top, also in dense bunches.

Rough elm grows quickly. Frost-resistant. Perfectly tolerates urban conditions. Drought tolerant. It tolerates pruning well. Gas resistant. Rough elm propagates by seeds, and decorative forms of elm by grafting. A large tree suitable for single plantings in combination with maple, oak.

decorative forms:

a) according to the shape of the crown: pyramidal - with a narrow pyramidal crown; Camperdown - with a rounded crown and drooping branches; weeping - with sprawling main branches; low - dwarf, 2 m tall, with small foliage;

b) the shape of the leaves: large-leaved; curly - undersized, slowly growing, with narrow leaves;

c) according to the coloring of the leaves: yellow-motley; yellowish purple - young foliage is purple; dark purple. An interesting form of "Lutescens" - its foliage appears creamy yellow in spring, and then turns yellow-green.

Rough elm "Weeping" looks good on the trunk. original tree with a hemispherical shape of the crown, similar to an inverted bowl. long branches with large green foliage creates a dense canopy under which you can hide from sun rays. The height of an adult tree is 5 m. Demanding on the soil. Winter-hardy, however, in cold winters, the ends of the shoots freeze slightly.

Elm can be called a slender, powerful and stately tree. Its domed crown immediately catches the eye. This tree is similar to oak, just as large, tall and centuries old. What does an elm look like, its description and photo, what fruits does this giant have?

This tree has several names - elm, birch bark, elm. It is deciduous tree genus of elms, family of elms. Around the world, there are about 40 species of elms. For the first time such trees appeared more than 20 million years ago in Central Asia. Gradually, the plant spread further to other countries. Most often, it grows in deciduous forests and other natural areas with a temperate climate.

What does an elm look like?

Elm is considered long-lived tree because it can live for more than 300 years. It has a large elliptical or rounded crown shape. The trunk diameter can reach 2 meters. Spreading branches have dense foliage. The leaves are large, unequal and simple. The elm blossoms before the leaves begin to bloom. The flowers are small and inconspicuous in appearance, collected in bunches. After flowering, winged nuts appear on the branches, which ripen after flowering after a few weeks. They contain seeds that quickly lose their germination. The tree bears fruit very abundantly, on average up to 30 kilograms per year. The fruits have the same appearance and can differ only in size.

It is considered very valuable. It is dense and hard, resembling a European walnut. Wood is considered a valuable breed. it great material for the production of furniture. The barrel is different smooth surface, which remains so for many years. The bark can peel off only due to the disease of the tree or from old age. With the appearance of cracks and furrows, the bark becomes a rich brown color. The leaves and bark of the tree are used to make medicines.

The elm has a strong and powerful root system. It can be on the surface of the earth or go far inland. Trees are different rapid growth and in a year they rise to half a meter in height and 30 cm in width. Very well tolerated low temperatures up to 30 o frost.

Where does it grow and when does it bloom?

Elm trees grow well on fertile soils and at proper care reach large sizes. However, in natural conditions can easily tolerate drought and floods, easily tolerate severe frosts. Most often, elms grow in the territory:

The powerful crown of these trees retains dust well. It often serves as a protective fence as a living planting. A large crown with dense foliage can often be seen in many parks and city gardens. In their natural environment, elms are often found in broad-leaved forests, along the banks of lakes and rivers. They help create clean plantings.

The flowering period begins very early, in March - April. Small and inconspicuous flowers, collected in bunches in leaves, are easily pollinated by the wind. The period of fruit ripening depends on climatic conditions. Most often they ripen in April - June. Fruit mature tree begins to give at the age of 7-8 years.

Common types

Based on some popular types of elms, many varieties and hybrids have been bred. Such plants can be seen in many gardens, squares and city parks. They are often used for landscaping streets. We will look at the most popular types of elms that can be found most often.

- This tree has a beautiful crown with spreading branches. Its bark is dark brown in color. The dark green, elliptical foliage is smooth and has serrated edges. With the end of autumn, it turns brown. This species perfectly tolerates frosty weather, shade and is resistant to drought. For rapid development, it needs fertile soil, which does not allow him to grow normally in the city. Elm smooth or ordinary most often grows in Europe. Also common in the Urals, the Caucasus, the Crimea and England.

, birch bark stands out with a crown of impressive size with dark brown shoots. It should be noted that the birch bark leaves of this species of elm are smooth and slightly dark above, and rough below. With the onset of autumn, they begin to turn yellow.

This species does not tolerate winter conditions. but not demanding on the soil. Most often grows in the countries of Western Europe, in Russia and the Caucasus, in Asia Minor.

belongs to a high variety of elms and is distinguished by a large crown. Oblong and bare leaves are located on the branches of a tree. Its bark is dark in color.

Differs from others in increased drought resistance. It practically does not occur in nature, but is cultivated only in Central Asia.

small-leaved elm grows most often in East and South Asia, where it is also called karagan ( ebony). Such a tree grows up to 15 meters high. It is noted that this plant tolerates transplants well and is not picky about the soil - it can grow well on unfavorable soils. However, this elm prefers light areas.

Rough or mountain elm refers to a variety with a wide and round crown. These trees are champions in height. There are specimens reaching a height of 35 meters. The bark has Brown color, and the leaves are smooth above and hairy below. With the advent of autumn, they turn orange. This species grows intensively, develops well in the conditions of the city and is not afraid of frost.

Care and breeding

Reproduction of elms occurs mainly by seeds. The tree can also be propagated by shoots. If the seeds are placed in an airtight container, they will be able to retain their properties for germination for 2 years. After the seeds ripen, they are planted after two weeks.

Plant does not need preliminary preparation soil. They must be laid out in the soil with a distance of 20-30 cm from each other, covered with a layer of soil and watered abundantly. During the first month, the seeds are regularly and plentifully watered. In very hot weather, it is advisable to cover the seeds with a film until the first shoots appear. As you grow young tree will easily tolerate excessive moisture or drought. Young shoots grow well even in the shade.

Before planting seeds or seedlings, the growth rate of the plant should be considered. After 2-3 years, the tree can obscure other plantings. Elms are known to have a negative effect on grapes, so they should not be planted nearby.

Beneficial features

Elm leaves and bark are rich useful substances. They have many beneficial effects:

  • anti-inflammatory;
  • antibacterial;
  • diuretic.

Collecting the bark It is recommended to carry out during the flowering period in spring time. The leaves are harvested in summer in dry weather. For collection, material is mainly taken from the smooth elm, which goes under the frame. The collected bark from a tree retains its properties for 2 years. Various decoctions and tinctures are made from it for many diseases:

  • bladder;
  • swelling;
  • wound healing;
  • digestive system;
  • skin diseases;
  • diarrhea.

A decoction of the leaves eliminates colic and helps for the speedy healing of wounds on the skin. A mixture of bark and buds from birch, willow has a beneficial effect on the body with dermatitis and burns, if a decoction is made from the composition.

wood properties

. Its wood does not rot, even when elevated level humidity. This feature has made elm wood very popular and in demand. AT European countries it has been used for many construction works as well as for water supply. In Russia, skids, shafts and arcs for horse-drawn transport were made from such wood.

In terms of its main characteristics and properties, wood is very similar to oak wood. The material is viscous and difficult to split. It is difficult to process manually and electrically. cutting tools, it is difficult to plan. Despite such difficulties in processing, it is perfectly polished and glued together. Before the beginning finishing works wood must be treated with soil, filling the pores. During the drying process, the material practically does not crack. This property of elm is similar to oak.

Currently, elm wood is in demand for the production of furniture and flooring. Valuable natural material also finds application in shipbuilding and mechanical engineering.

Elm: photo








Elm (lat. Ulmus) is a genus of powerful trees from the Elm family (lat. Ulmaceae). Trees have others no less famous titles: birch bark and elm. And several species of this genus: V. small, V. small-leaved, V. squat, are often called elm. Many representatives of the genus are distributed in the broad-leaved forests of the Volga region, in Central Asia, in the Caucasus, the Southern Urals, in Europe and China. In nature, they rarely form homogeneous plantations: most often they are mixed with other trees.

Description

Elm is a large deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 m. At such a height, the trunk diameter reaches 2 m. There are species in the genus that grow in the form of shrubs. The crown of elms can be wide cylindrical or spherical. Branching is sympodial, that is, the top of the main branch (axis) at some point stops growing, and its place is taken by the lateral one, growing in the direction of the main axis, with time a kind of ladder along the trunk is obtained.

The color of the bark is mostly brown. In young specimens, the bark is smooth, coarsens with age, longitudinal cracks appear on it, and in some species, sagging. root system powerful, often without tap root. The leaves are arranged alternately, two-row-mosaic, from which the crown of elms practically does not transmit light and forms a thick shadow at the foot. The leaves are 5 to 20 cm long and have short petioles. The shape and size of the leaves can be different, they form a kind of lace - the so-called ligature. With the advent of autumn, the leaves turn into elegant yellow.

Botanical illustration of the type species V. American (U. americana)

Elm flowering begins early: in March-April. Small inconspicuous flowers, grouped in bunches in the axils of the leaves, are pollinated by the wind. The fruits ripen in April-June, depending on climatic conditions. The fruits are winged nuts collected in groups. Elms begin to bear fruit at the age of 7-8 years. Ripens on every tree a large number of seeds that are carried by the wind and, once in moist soil, germinate in 5-7 days. Trees live up to 120, and some up to 300 years.

Species diversity

Elms have been cultivated for a very long time, on the basis of some species many varieties and hybrids have been bred, which are widely used in landscaping city streets and squares.

B. small-leaved(lat. U. parvifolia) and V. squat (lat. U. pumila) in some places are called elmovik (sometimes elm). In the natural environment, species are widely distributed in northern regions China, Kazakhstan, Western Siberia, Mongolia, India. In Europe, in Canada and the USA it is cultivated culturally. V. squat grows up to 25 m, V. small-leaved lower - up to 15 m. The leaves of both species are small - up to 8 cm long, oval with pointed tips. From the bark of these trees, a fiber similar to hemp is obtained. Karagach loves illuminated places, he is not picky about the composition of the soil and its moisture content. Trees tolerate transplanting and pruning well. In addition, they do not have root shoots, which makes the species valuable for decorative use. There are varieties such as 'Celer' that are great for making hedges.

Elm 'Camperdown' in Brooklyn Park (U. glabra 'Camperdownii')

B. small(lat. U. minor) or birch bark - this species, like the previous two, is called elm. Trees are comparatively different. short stature(up to 10 m) and low-lying crown. Cork growths can often be seen on the branches, giving value to the wood. In its natural environment, it grows in Ukraine, Asia Minor, Western Europe and in southern regions Russia. It differs from other species in the shape of the leaves. In elm, they are elongated, obovate with serrated edges. View loves sunny places not very cold hardy. Feature– the ability to develop a network of superficial roots, which perfectly strengthens upper layer soil.

B. rough(lat. U. glabra) or V. mountain - a species growing in nature in Asia Minor, Europe, the Caucasus and the Crimea. The species is frost-resistant (found in Karelia and in the north of Norway). Trees with a highly located crown grow up to 30 m. The leaves are large, up to 15 cm long. The bark is smooth. Flowering is observed in April, fruiting - in May. The species is demanding on the soil. Grows well in the shade. On its basis, many interesting varieties have been bred that are widely used in landscape design.

B. small-leaved (U. parvifolia)

Decorative forms of elm:

V. mountain "Camperdown"(lat. U. glabra ‘Camperdownii’) – beautiful variety with a rounded crown and drooping branches. Plants grow up to 4 m. They withstand frosts down to -30 ° C, in summer you need to make sure that the earth does not dry out.

V. mountain "Low"(lat. U. glabra ‘Nana’) is a low-growing, slow-growing elm. The tree grows up to 2 m, differs small leaves. This variety is similar to V. mountain "Curly" (lat. U. glabra ‘Crispa’), which also grows slowly. Of interest are beautiful leaves with terry edges.

B. rough ‘Lutescens’(lat. U. glabra ‘Lutescens’) is a variety with a very beautiful and delicate leaf color. One of the few that does not suffer from Dutch elm disease.

V. rough "Weeping" (U. glabra ‘Pendula’)

V. rough "Weeping"(lat. U. glabra ‘Pendula’) - great option for growing in decorative purposes. It grows up to 5 m. The crown looks like an inverted bowl. The branches are long, hanging from large beautiful leaves.

V. small "Jacqueline Hiller"(lat. U. minor ‘Jacqueline Hillier’) is a slow growing variety with small leaves. Can be grown as a shrub. On sale can be found on the trunk. It grows up to 3.5 m. It develops well both in the shade and in the sun.

Photogallery of species

cultivation

Site selection and care

Elm planting is most successful on fertile soils, especially on floodplains. Heavy soils are fertilized with organic matter. Some species tolerate salinity and lack of moisture well. Many elms are shade-tolerant, but there are varieties that love sunny places.

In care and cultivation, trees are undemanding, they tolerate fairly well. frosty winters. If the branches of the plant are slightly frosted over, then they are easy to cut in the spring. General recommendations suitable for many species are:

  • fertile, well-drained soil;
  • good watering at the beginning of summer, later it is reduced, but excessive drying of the earth is not allowed.

Small elm in the form of bonsai (U. minor)

pruning

You can prune in autumn and very in early spring. Elms grow slowly, so we are talking about rare and weak pruning, or even its absence. Varieties suitable for hedges are cut from mid-summer as needed. All types require sanitary pruning, in which old and dry branches are removed. When grown for ornamental purposes, trees are shaped like standard trees, leaving a bare trunk of the desired height. In addition, you can remove branches that are uneven along the main shoot. Weeping varieties do not form and do not cut.

Elm and spruce

reproduction

In nature, elm propagation occurs by self-sowing. Seeds quickly lose their germination capacity, therefore, when growing elm seeds, only freshly harvested material is sown (May-June). Before planting, they are moistened for 2-3 days and treated with a fungicide. Planting depth 1 cm, distance between pits 20 cm, covered with moss or hay on top, watered well. Shoots appear in a week. After the sprouts get stronger, the moss is removed, and the soil around is well loosened. Watering is reduced, and by mid-August they stop. From seeds in the first year, plants grow up to 15 cm, then annually give an increase of up to 40 cm. It is better to wrap small plants for the winter.

Elms also reproduce vegetatively: by stump shoots and root offspring. The reliability of such methods is low, so it is better to purchase a ready-made 3-4 year old seedling.

Elm seeds

Diseases and pests

The elm is subject to invasions of leaf-eating insects: elm leaf beetle, scale insect and springtail. May suffer from fungal diseases: dutch disease elms, which leads to the drying of the branches and the death of the plant. From insects, ordinary insecticidal preparations are used. But from fungal disease there is no medicine. For prevention young tree can be treated with a systemic fungicide, for example, Maxim KS.

Elm in the company of flowers

decorative application

Karagach is great for urban conditions: it grows quickly, drought-resistant. Looks nice in joint landing with acacias and coniferous trees. It can be used for quick landscaping as well as hedges. Decorative and ordinary forms of elms are used for parks and gardens. Some varieties look spectacular in the central places of grassy lawns. Directly under the elms flowering plants it is better not to plant, as their crowns form a deep shadow. Due to the fact that elms tolerate shearing well, they are used in Japanese art cultivation dwarf trees bonsai.

Interesting fact: elm wood, being in water, does not rot. Therefore, in the old days it was used to make water pipes and piers for bridges. Elm has also found its use: in the manufacture of furniture, its wood is highly valued for beautiful drawing and high strength.

November 28, 2011

We dedicate this article to fans of large vehicles and those who are just about to join them. Although there are quite miniature plants in the elm family, ideal for bonsai compositions, most of the trees are solid in size.

Adult elm can reach 16 meters in height, and its crown grows up to 10 meters in diameter. Bush versions of this plant also reach up to 6 meters.

The main charm of elm is its absolute unpretentiousness. This tree loves sun or partial shade. At the same time, it calmly tolerates dry soil or prolonged rains, wind and even hard frost. Even temperatures up to minus 50 degrees are unfathomable for adult plants - they can freeze a little around the edges, but quickly recover.



Landscaping Decoration

Elms grow fairly quickly. For three or four years, a very decent tree can grow out of a small cutting, and young plants grow annually by a meter. Such rapid development makes it possible to successfully use elms in the formation of hedges. They tolerate pruning well, and thanks to their rapid regeneration, their crown quickly thickens and turns into a dense array. By the way, this same property makes elm a favorite among topiary fans.

In addition to green fences, standard or bush variants of this plant are often used in other compositions. landscape design. Elm can solo on the lawn, organically fits into Japanese garden stones, harmonizes well with apple trees, felt cherries, bird cherry, or fieldfare.

Standard plants can serve as a "roof" in the shady composition. The sprawling dense crown creates an excellent shelter in the shade of which you can plant ferns, bergenia, astilba, hosta and lilies of the valley.

Lovers of harmony and color balances are already wondering, what does an elm look like? The crown of this plant is made up of densely growing pointed leaves, jagged along the edge and painted in dark green color. Elm belongs to deciduous trees, but is not in a hurry to shed its outfit, and the leaves stay on the branches until severe frosts, eventually acquiring a yellowish-olive hue. The elm blooms even before the foliage appears with small flowers collected in bunches.



How to plant and care?

In a word, elm on personal plot it's good and great. How to plant it? To begin with, let's please gardeners who every year fight with young shoots of apple and cherry trees. Elm does not propagate through the root system. The main method of planting it is cuttings. You can breed elms on the site yourself - from one adult tree you can root dozens of cuttings and, if you wish, arrange a real elm street in your country house without any nightmares. best time for rooting - June and July.

There are no special tricks in planting this tree, but the tree needs the first three or four days abundant watering(up to ten liters of water per square meter), especially if on the street hot weather. After planting, the near-stem space is mulched with peat or wood chips with a layer of up to ten centimeters.

The active period of elm growth occurs in middle lane for the period from April to October. All work on pruning and thinning of the crown should be carried out even before the growing season. The exception is work on topiary molding, which is carried out throughout the summer.

But it is better not to hurry with molding. In the early years, you will only need to remove dried and dead branches, and start the first serious pruning around the fourth year. Most importantly, do not forget to cover all the cuts with plenty of thick garden pitch so that fungi or bacteria do not get into the wounds. In general, the elm is very rarely sick, and pests do not like it, but sometimes weakened trees can become victims of the spider mite.

And the last, if you have contacted the elm, then this is for a long time. The tree is distinguished by its vitality. Individual plants of this species are known in the world, the age of which reaches 500 and even 800 years. Even in room conditions elm can live over 50 years.

Dear readers, we bring to your attention elm video:

A tree of the first magnitude up to 30 m high, with a high crown and large rough leaves(up to 8-20 cm). According to some scientists, two forms of the same species are combined under the common name Mountain elm: with a naked fruit (typical form) - Ulmus scabra Mill, (rough elm) and with a fruit pubescent in the center - elliptical elm (Uelliptica C. Koch, U. sukaczewii Andron). These forms are neither geographically nor geologically separated. This species is more frost-resistant, but also more thermophilic than smooth elm; demanding on the richness and moisture of the soil, like the common elm. It develops especially well on ordinary chernozems. Salinity and dryness does not tolerate. It has a significant shade tolerance and relatively well renewed under the canopy of spruce, oak and beech. Distributed in the European part of Russia, in the Crimea and the Caucasus (at an altitude of up to 2200 m). Abroad grows in Central Asia, Europe, Scandinavia, the Balkans and Asia Minor. The northern border of its range runs from the southern part of the Karelian Isthmus and Petrozavodsk to Vologda, Perm and ends south of Sverdlovsk; the southern border within the black earth zone reaches Saratov and Dnepropetrovsk. The number of chromosomes in different forms miscellaneous: 2n = 28, 42, 56 (important for deriving new forms). Rough elm can reach an age of up to 300 years. Rough elm is a tree with a round or semi-oval crown with large leaves. It can grow up to 40 meters in height, the trunk reaches 0.8 m in circumference. The bark is brown in color, on the surface of the crack. The leaves are oblong, with teeth along the edges, the roots are short. Leaf color is light green, autumn period they turn yellow. It feels best on damp slopes overgrown with sparse forests and in groves near streams. Rough elm is able to survive in dry places, but its growth is slow. In the absence of foliage, the rough elm can be recognized by its typical sharp angles between branches pointing upwards. The crown consists of several trunks, forming a narrow tower, in contrast to the smooth elm. Spatulate leaves with a rough upper surface resembling sandpaper, are clearly different from smooth leaves smooth elm. The fruits are lionfish the size of a one euro coin.