In moist environments, Siberian elm (synonyms: Asiatic elm, dwarf elm, and Manchurian elm) is a hardy, fastgrowing, mid-sized, deciduous tree. In drier locations, it is smaller and takes on a shrubby appearance. Siberian elm has an open crown with upward-growing branches and many flexible, pendulous, brittle branchlets that easily break off. There is usually a large accumulation of leaves and woody litter that builds up in the understory beneath Siberian elm. Growth Characteristics • Deciduous tree (up to 70 feet tall) with an open, rounded crown that is 3/4 as wide as it is tall; slender, spreading branches. • Trunk has rough grey or brown bark with shallow, irregular furrows. • Twigs are silver-grey, yellowish, or grayish-brown, zigzag-shaped with a leaf bud at each bend and scattered spots (lenticels). • Alternate leaves; 0.5 to 2.5 inches long, tapered at each end with a simple serrate or entire margin; upper surface deep green; lower surface paler green with hairs along vein axils. Leaves may turn yellow in autumn. • Reproduces primarily via seed; roots resprout when top growth is damaged.
• Clusters of 2 to 5 small, green, drooping flowers without petals occur from February through April before leaves develop. • Clusters of smooth, circular, winged, samara-type fruit with single seed in the center occur from April to May