European White Elm

Do you want to plant a European White Elm? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the European White Elm, and on pruning and caring for your European White Elm.
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General characteristics of a European White Elm

The white Elm can grow into a large tree with a broad crown. The leaf of this elm has a crooked leaf base and is slightly hairy. Its buds differ from those of other elms. They are long, pointed and yellow-brown in color with a dark edge.

 

Characteristics


How to plant a European White Elm

Roots at least 10 cm below ground level. Dig a planting hole 1.5 x as wide as the root system; make sure the roots are covered with soil; do not plant deeper than to where the trunk begins.

Because of its wide growth form, the tree requires a lot of space.

Caring for and pruning your European White Elm

The Elm does not necessarily need to be pruned. If you do want to prune it, do so in February. Considerable pruning back is not a problem.

Where does a European White Elm grow

Van nature is fladderiep in onze streken een nogal zeldzame bewoner van hardhoutooibossen, een bostype dat nog slechts zeer beperkt voorkomt in Vlaanderen, door onder andere de indijking van onze grotere rivieren. De soort werd in het verleden ook vrijwel niet aangeplant. Fladderiepen zijn daardoor weinig bekend in Vlaanderen en de Lage Landen.

Als we geheel België bekijken, hebben we een iets ruimer scala aan natuurlijke biotopen en merken we dat fladderiep ook op mergel goed gedijt. In Wallonië groeit fladderiep niet uitsluitend in de vallei, maar ook wat hogerop, op de hellingen van ravijnbossen.


General

Origin
Native
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 2 Up to 4 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years Up to year
Maximum Age 150 Up to 200 year
Required Space Up to m2
Growth Rate

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating Yes
Reproduction Method
Makes root suckers
To cut (cutting is between 5 and 50 cm)
Makes seedlings
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen Yes
Summer No pruning in summer
Winter November tot February
Leaf Shapes Oval
Easy to prune No

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Varied
Bud Shape
Pointed

Other

Root Information not available
Bloom
Has flowers
Has fruits
Wind sensitivity Not sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases Information not available

Harvest/recognition in winter

The leaves are oval and the leaf edge is double toothed. To tell the difference from other elms, it is best to have the wing nut. This is winged in the Elm and and has a long stem of 6 to 24 mm. Dutch elm, Smooth elm and Rough elm have wing-nuts that are not twined with a shorter stem of 5 mm or less.

The buds differ from other elms. They are long, pointed and yellow-brown in color with a dark edge.
 

Light requirement of the European White Elm

The European White Elm thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade

    • Suitable soil types for the European White Elm

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the European White Elm to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the European White Elm

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the European White Elm in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the European White Elm

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does European White Elm like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? 124
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?
    White-letter Hairstreak
    European elm bark beetle
    elm zigzag sawfly

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer March Up to April

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Badgers
    Squirrel
    Ferret
    Goat
    Herbivorous rodents
    Deer
    Cat
    Dog
    Chicken
    Cow
    Human
    Mouse
    Horse
    Roe deer
    Sheep
    Pig
    Foxes
    Wild boar
    Beavers

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). No
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree European White Elm looks like

    European white elm; a mature tree
    Bast van de fladderiep
    Fladderiep in de winter

    This is what the fruits of a European White Elm look like

    Fruit of the European white elm

    This is what a European White Elm in bloom looks like

    European white elm in bloom

    This is what the leaf of a European White Elm looks like

    Leaf of the European white elm
    Leaf of the European white elm