# Slippery Elm (*Ulmus rubra*)

The Slippery Elm is a unique tree with rough leaves and a slippery inner bark. It’s fun to learn about!

- **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 3
- **Habitat:** Wooded areas and fields
- **Also known as:** Red Elm

![Slippery Elm](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426482/objects/4798.jpg)

## Appearance

The Slippery Elm has rough, dark gray to reddish-brown bark with deep furrows. Its large, fuzzy, saw-toothed leaves are dark green and turn yellow in autumn. The tree often forms a broad, open crown.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Ulmaceae
- **Genus:** Ulmus

## Interesting facts

- Its inner bark feels slimy when wet, giving the tree its 'slippery' name!
- Native Americans made baskets and ropes from its tough bark.
- Pioneers used its mucilage to help bind up broken bones!
- The tiny seeds are surrounded by a paper-thin, circular wing.

## Special abilities

- **Seed Spinner:** It produces lightweight, winged seeds called samaras that help it spread far in the wind.
- **Adaptable Roots:** Slippery Elm can grow in many soil types, helping it thrive in varied environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 12-25 m
- **Spread:** 6-12 m
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Size:** 30-100 cm
- **Lifespan:** 100-200 years
- **Fruit Type:** Samara
- **Growth Rate:** Medium
- **Leaf Type:** Deciduous

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Elm Leaf Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elm-leaf-beetle) (*Xanthogaleruca luteola*) — Larvae and adults feed on leaves.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on twigs and foliage.
- **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Squirrels gather and consume the seeds.
- **Depends on:** [Cobweb Skipper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cobweb-skipper) (*Hesperia metea*) — Larvae feed exclusively on elm leaves.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Slippery Elm?

Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Slippery Elm?

12-25 m

### How wide does Slippery Elm spread?

6-12 m

### Is Slippery Elm edible?

Yes

### How big is Slippery Elm?

30-100 cm

### How long does Slippery Elm live?

100-200 years

### Where is Slippery Elm usually found?

Wooded areas and fields

### What kind of fruit does Slippery Elm produce?

Samara

## Where to spot

- [Downtown Ossining Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-ossining-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District
- [Buford Mountain Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buford-mountain-conservation-area) — Missouri, US · Nature Reserve
- [Namur Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/namur-historic-district) — Wisconsin, US · Historic District
- [Dugger Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dugger-park) — Massachusetts, US · Park

[View all places to see Slippery Elm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/slippery-elm)

## More Trees

- [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*)
- [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*)
- [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*)
- [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*)

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Source: [Slippery Elm: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/slippery-elm)