Landowner Fact Sheets

slippery elm Ulmus rubra play

Slippery (or red) elm grows with and closely resebles American (white) elm. Red and white refer to the color of the heartwood of these species. Slippery hints at the mucillaginous slipperiness of the inner bark.

range map Click to see more images. fall color wood grain

Light
Slippery elm is not intentionally regenerated.

Water
Slippery elm grows best on moist bottomland soils, streambanks and lower slopes. It may be found on drier soils as well, especially on limestone derived soils.

Growth

Size
Medium sized tree to 80 feet, trunk usually free of branches for a greater length than American elm, branches also less drooping.

Timber Value
Diseases often limit development of slippery elm into a timber tree. Large trees can produce attractive wood that is used for boxes and specialty products.

Wildlife Value
Slippery elm is a preferred browse species and several species of birds and small mammals eat the seeds.
Attracts deer, rabbits, several birds, small mammals

Insects and Diseases

Fun Facts
The mucilaginous inner bark is sometimes chewed and used medicinally for coughs and throat irritations. The fresh green fruit is eaten by many birds and was a favorite food of extinct passenger pigeons.

Latin Meaning
Ulmus: Latin name / rubra: red

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Landowner Factsheets © 2004 Virginia Tech Forestry Department, all rights reserved. Text, images, and programming by: Dr. Jeff Kirwan, Dr. John R. Seiler, John A. Peterson, Edward C. Jensen, Guy Phillips, or Andrew S. Meeks.