Elm Trees - Ulmus Species

Elm Trees have been used for many years as shade trees and for timber. If you live in Melbourne and have ever been for walk in the park, then you have seen elm trees, and probably some of the best examples in the world. However a lot more species exist than those that line the streets and parks.

Species and varieties

Ulmus procera is the English elm and some are green and some are golden, however it is Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens' that is widely called the 'golden elm'.
However we are in love with Ulmus minor Variegata is the silver elm, we think one of the loveliest of all of the elms, varied in habit depending on conditions and early growth, this is a tall stately tree, underused in the garden

Elm Leaf Beetle

A problem with elm trees is control of the elm leaf beetle, and we know a little bit about this little pest, they eat holes in the leaves, and to such an extent that they can actually kill the tree. Our Silver Elm was infested with these little blighters and the leaves looked as though they had been shredded. However, we had the tree 'injected' and the treatment worked. So if you have an elm tree, take care of it, they are magnificent trees and the Silver Elm is a must for larger gardens