Ulmus campestris seed

LATIN NAME: Ulmus campestris

COMMON NAME: Wych Elm, Scots Elm, Field Elm

The wych elm is one of the great trees of the European countryside, and its sweeping, fountain-like crown is unmistakable. It is a large, deciduous tree that can reach thirty metres, with a broad, domed canopy of rough, oval leaves that are sharply toothed and held in elegant sprays, turning butter-yellow in autumn. In early spring, before the leaves, it bears small clusters of reddish flowers, and these are followed by flat, papery, winged seeds called samaras that flutter down like little green coins. It is a tree of great character, tough and long-lived, and it has stood in European woodlands for thousands of years.

The wych elm belongs to the elm family, Ulmaceae, and it is the most widespread of the European elms, native from Ireland and Britain across to the Ural Mountains and south to the Mediterranean mountains. It is essentially a mountain and river-valley tree, growing on moist soils up to 1,500 metres, and it has been planted as a shade and avenue tree for centuries.

Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide

Growing a wych elm from seed is easy and very rewarding. The papery, winged seeds ripen in early summer and germinate readily, and they are best sown fresh, as soon as they fall. Scatter them on the surface of pots of moist seed compost, cover them very lightly, and keep them in a cool, bright, sheltered spot. Germination is quick and often abundant, with seedlings appearing within a few weeks. Pot them on as they grow and plant them out in a sheltered, moist, sunny spot. The young trees grow fast and soon develop the elegant, sweeping crown that makes the wych elm so loved.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The wych elm has a distinguished and, in recent decades, a sobering record in research. It is one of the European elms devastated by Dutch elm disease, and researchers have studied the disease, its spread by bark beetles and the search for resistant trees, making the wych elm a central case study in tree-disease research and conservation. At the same time, the species has been studied in forestry research for its growth and its timber, which is tough, durable and valued for fine work, and its resistance to water damage made it prized for boatbuilding and water pipes. For a tree of such history and such challenge, the wych elm has a rich and important record of research.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

Ecologically, the wych elm is a generous tree. Its early flowers feed bees when little else is in bloom, its seeds feed birds and small mammals, and its dense canopy gives shade and shelter across the European countryside.

Its economic value is historic. The tough, durable timber has been used for furniture, boatbuilding, wheelwrights’ work and water pipes, and the tree has been planted as a shade and avenue tree for centuries. Its decline from Dutch elm disease has made the planting of resistant trees and the conservation of surviving elms an important task. For a grower, the wych elm is a tree of great character, and for a gardener it brings the sweeping, old-fashioned beauty of the European countryside.