Ulmus alata

Winged Elm

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:	Interesting bark, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance

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
Propagation:	Seed or cuttings.
Availability:	Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales
Light:	Full Sun,  Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:	always floodedextremely dry
	(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance:	Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:	Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:	Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or other substrate:	Loam, Sand
Soil pH:	Adaptable

Ecology

Wildlife:	Important early spring food for songbirds.
Insects:	Larval host for the question mark butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis)
Native Habitats:	Floodplains, slopes, well-drained forests.

Distribution and Planting Zones

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.