Ulmus rubra Seeds | Slippery Elm
LATIN NAME: Ulmus rubra
COMMON NAME: Slippery Elm
Plant Profile
Ulmus rubra, better known as Slippery Elm, is a tree in the elm family. It is a tree of open, sunny, deep, moist, well-drained ground. Taken as a whole, it is a plant that repays a little attention many times over.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the elm family, Ulmus rubra draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. Interest from collectors and breeders has never lapsed, and good seed continues to circulate.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Slippery Elm earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Slippery elm is a fine, quiet tree of old garden and study collection. It is a fine, quiet tree of open, sunny, deep, moist, well-drained garden. Give young trees deep, moist bed, and broad shade will come over the years. Once it has its roots down, it more or less looks after itself.
Slippery elm inner bark is a soothing demulcent powder for throats and digestion, a staple of North American herbalism; the great elms also gave cities their cathedral avenues before Dutch elm disease.
Growing from Seed
Slippery Elm grows readily from seed. Scatter the seed evenly over a loose seed compost, cover to no more than its own depth, and keep the pot moist and bright. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
Slippery Elm earns its space through character rather than fuss. Once the young plants are away, there is little left to do but watch them grow.
Related Reading
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