Common Elm Trees In Michigan (5 Types To Know)
For hundreds of years, elm trees have been a staple in the urban and rural landscapes of Michigan. Dutch Elm Disease, a fungal infection that targets elm trees specifically, has had a significant negative impact on the state’s elm population.
Despite this, Michigan still has several species of native and naturalized elm trees that are well-adapted to the state’s climate and soil conditions.
In this article, we’ll look at the most common elm trees in Michigan, including four native species and one non-native species, as well as identification information for each.
So, let’s get started.
1. American Elm
- Common Name: American Elm
- Scientific Name: Ulmus americana
- Mature Height: 70–100ft (21–30.5 m)
- Flowers/Cones: tiny reddish-brown flower
- Uses: Shade tree, containers, furniture & paneling
The American elm (Ulmus americana), often known as the white elm or just elm, may grow to heights of 70-100 feet. The tree has a single trunk with large root flares. It has gently spreading upper branches that form a vase shape, with drooping branch ends.
The oval, simple leaves are joined at right angles to one another and feature a pointed tip, an asymmetrical leaf base, a double-toothed edge, and a little rough texture. American Elms have dark grey bark that is heavily furrowed with flat ridges and can even be scaly in spots.
Blossoms are 1 inch in diameter and are topped with tiny, reddish-brown flowers. The American Elm’s leaves turn a brilliant shade of gold in the fall. The discs, which measure about half an inch in diameter and turn tan when ripe, are flat and fuzzy, and the tree that bears them has a notch opposite the fruit stalk.
American elms are a North American native tree species that thrive in full sun and moist soils. When Dutch elm disease was introduced, elm trees were commonly used to line streets throughout eastern North America.
The fungus responsible for Dutch elm disease has tragically wiped off the American elm tree population. This tree is frequently used in landscaping because of the shade it provides thanks to its drooping branches.
There are now many Dutch elm disease-resistant trees available for planting, and mature American elm trees may be recognized from far away thanks to their distinctive vase form.
2. Rock Elm
- Common Name: Rock Elm
- Scientific Name: Ulmus thomasii
- Mature Height: 40-60′ (12-18m)
- Flowers/Cones: Green flowers hanging in clusters before the leaves each spring; thin green disk-shaped fruit (samara) covered with fine white hairs
- Uses: Wood was used for making pianos.
The Rock Elm is a medium-sized tree that has a single straight boot and a tall, narrow crown, and it is a member of the Elm family (Ulmaceae).
In addition to its drooping branches and unique uneven corky bark on young twigs and branches, this tree can reach a height of 40-60 feet (12-18 meters). When cut in half, the bark reveals scaly dark grey layers that alternate with lighter white and darker brown ones.
The Rock Elm has simple, oval leaves that range in length from 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) and are deep green on top and lighter on the underside, with a double-toothed edge and fine, silvery hairs.
In the spring, the tree will produce clusters of green blooms that are just about an eighth of an inch (.3 cm) across. The mature fruit is a round to oval samara about 14 to 34 inches (.6-2 cm) in diameter, covered with fine white hairs that turn brown, and with a shallowly notched tip opposite the fruit stalk. The yellow fall foliage of the Rock Elm is stunning.
The Rock Elm is an indigenous American tree that lives to be about 175 years old. It thrives in full sun and on dry, clayey soils or rocky cliffs.
The tree is scarce in the rest of the United States but widespread in the LP region. The uniqueness of the Rock Elm lies in the fact that its wood was originally used to make pianos but is no longer regularly used for that purpose.
3. Slippery Elm
- Common Name: Slippery Elm
- Scientific Name: Ulmus rubra
- Mature Height: 50–70′ (15–21 m)
- Flowers/Cones: Green disk (samara), turning brown when mature
- Uses: The inner bark was once chewed to quench thirst and used to cure sore throats.
Slippery Elm, scientifically known as Ulmus rubra, is a type of Elm that has a single boot, rising branches, and a large, flat-topped crown, and can reach heights of 50-70 feet (15-21 meters).
The leaves are basic in shape and have a rough texture and a short leafstalk, and they are a dark green color on top and a lighter green underneath.
Slippery elm gets its common name from the aromatic and mucilaginous inner bark. It ranges in hue from brown to reddish brown and has flat, uneven scales that are arranged in a vertical pattern.
The tree’s fruit is a green disc (samara) that, once ripe, turns brown. It has an almost round shape, measuring between 1.5 and 3.5 inches “(1-2 cm) in diameter, slightly notched at the end opposite the fruit stalk, and covered in a scant covering of crimson-brown hairs.
The Slippery Elm is endemic to North America, where it prefers to take root in the damp soil found beside streams and on slopes.
With its smaller leaves and distinctive reddish-brown leaf buds, this species stands out among other elms. Ancient indigenous communities relied on the inner bark to treat thirst and soothe sore throats by chewing it.
4. Hackberry Elm
- Common Name: Hackberry
- Scientific Name: Celtis occidentalis
- Mature Height: 40-60 feet
- Flowers/Cones: Tiny green flowers
- Uses: Favorite food for many bird species, it is commonly found in floodplain forests, but also grows well in dryer areas.
The Hackberry is a member of the elm family of trees, although it also goes by the names Northern Hackberry, Sugarberry, and Hack-tree.
Its grey, corky bark is coated in small wart-like ridges, giving it a distinct appearance among other trees in its region. Growing to a height of 40-60 feet, it has a uniformly spherical crown and a single boot with drooping limbs.
The hairs in the veins of the Hackberry’s simple, lance-shaped, dark green leaves help to make them stand out. The leaves are anywhere from 2 to 4 inches long.
The tree’s purple berry-like fruit is more noticeable in the winter after the leaves have fallen and turned a yellowish brown. Several different types of birds enjoy eating this fruit, and if it is left on the tree during the winter, it will still be there in the spring.
The Hackberry tree, which can survive for 100-150 years, is endemic to the southern half of the L.P. It thrives in both wet and dry conditions and is therefore not limited to any one soil type.
5. Siberian Elm
- Common Name: Siberian Elm
- Scientific Name: Ulmus pumila
- Mature Height: 30-50 feet (9-15 meters)
- Flowers/Cones: Flat green disks (samara)
- Uses: Parks, hedges, old homesites
The Siberian Elm, sometimes known as the Chinese Elm or Ulmus pumila, is a small non-native elm species brought from Asia. This species has the tiniest leaves of any elm tree and grows to a height of 30-50 feet with a single trunk and an open irregular crown.
The Siberian Elm’s leaves are simple, narrow, and alternately connected, with a pointy tip, asymmetrical leaf base, and double-toothed border. They are dark green and measure 34-2 inches in length.
This plant produces flat green discs (samara) that grow to be about 12 inches in diameter and turn papery brown as they mature.
The Siberian Elm’s blossoms are yellow, and its bark is usually grey with rough scales. This tree thrives in a wide range of soils and can withstand harsh circumstances. Dutch elm disease sometimes takes significantly longer to kill than American elm disease, making it somewhat resistant.
The Siberian Elm can be found in parks, hedges, and abandoned homes. The Siberian Elm’s quick growth makes it a popular choice for landscaping work. The species name ‘pumila’ means small,’ referring to the tree’s diminutive height.
While being called the Chinese Elm, the Siberian Elm is not the same as the cultivated Chinese Elm (U. parvifolia).
Common Elm Trees In Michigan – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let me answer some of the most frequently asked questions related to common elm trees in Michigan.
Does Michigan have elm trees?
Although declining in numbers, Michigan does have a lot of elm trees. The state is home to four different types of elm trees, including the American Elm, Rock Elm, Slippery Elm, and Hackberry Elm. Siberian elms, which are not native to the state but have become naturalized there, are also common.
What is the difference between Slippery Elm and American Elm trees in Michigan?
Slippery elm and American elm are two species of native elm trees in Michigan. American elms can reach heights of 100 feet, with a wider trunk and deeply grooved bark, whereas slippery elms can reach heights of 60 feet, with smooth and light brown bark.
American elm leaves are smaller and serrated, while slippery elm leaves are larger and smoother with a fuzzy texture on the underside. Slippery elm bark has medicinal properties, while American elm wood is used in construction and furniture.
The fact that both species are in danger of disease and habitat loss demonstrates how crucial it is to protect wildlife.
Where can you spot the most elm trees in Michigan?
Michigan once had a sizable elm tree population until Dutch Elm Disease wiped it out in the mid-twentieth century. Some areas in Michigan, however, still have a significant number of elm trees. Marshall, in the state’s deep south, is one such location. Marshall has over 800 elm trees, including some of the state’s largest and oldest, thanks to extensive preservation efforts. Other major towns in Michigan, such as Ann Arbor and East Lansing, also have significant populations of elm trees, though not as many as Marshall.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Bringing Back American Elms, Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
- Book – Michigan Trees A Guide to the Trees of the Great Lakes Region
- Book – Field Manual of Michigan Flora
- Book – Trees Of Michigan Field Guide
- Michigan’s Forests, Department of Natural Resources
- Michigan Botanical Society
- LSA Herbarium, University Of Michigan
- Department Of Forestry, Michigan State University
- Michigan Nature Association
