Slippery Elm
Ulmus rubra
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ulmaceae
- Genus:
- Ulmus
- Species:
- Ulmus rubra
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jan, feb, mar, apr
- Bloom Colors:
- Red, Yellow, Green, Brown
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana), Argyresthia undulatella, Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Cameraria obstrictella, Cameraria ulmella, Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Ectoedemia ulmella, fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Io moth (Automeris io), maple-basswood leafroller (Sparganothis pettitana), Phyllonorycter argentinotella, Phyllonorycter occitanica, Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata), Spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), Stigmella apicialbella, three-lined leafroller (Pandemis limitata), white-lined hypena (Hypena abalienalis), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), woodland leafroller (Pandemis lamprosana), yellow-based tussock moth (Dasychira basiflava)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers bottomland and floodplain areas
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seeds germinate at 30/20 C.
Establishment: U. rubra is found within temperate deciduous forests of North America.
Source: npn.rngr.net