# Winged Elm (*Ulmus alata*)

The Winged Elm is a special tree with unique, wing-like structures on its branches. It grows tall and provides shade, making it a great spot for birds and other animals to rest.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Winged Elm](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ulmus_alata_071007c.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Ronnie Nijboer, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ulmus_alata_071007c.jpg)

## Appearance

The Winged Elm is a medium-sized tree with distinctive corky "wings" on its branches, especially noticeable on younger twigs. Its leaves are small, dark green, and oval with serrated edges, turning dull yellow in autumn. The tree has an open, rounded crown.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its tiny seeds have paper-thin "wings" that let them spin like helicopters far away on the wind!
- One of the first trees to bloom in spring, its small reddish flowers appear before its leaves!
- The corky ridges on its twigs feel like tiny airplane wings, giving this tree its name!
- Winged Elm wood is super strong and tough, once used to make things like wagon wheels!

## Special abilities

- **Corky Armor:** Winged Elm has unique corky "wings" on its twigs that help it withstand strong winds and deter browsing animals, protecting young branches.
- **Pioneer Spirit:** Winged Elm can quickly colonize disturbed areas, growing rapidly to establish itself in new habitats before other slower trees.
- **Drought Buster:** Winged Elm has a strong, deep root system that helps it access water from deeper soil, allowing it to survive dry periods.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 900-1800 cm
- **Spread:** 600-1200 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Early spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Elm Leaf Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elm-leaf-beetle) (*Pyrrhalta luteola*) — Feeds on elm leaves, causing defoliation.
- **Eats:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — Its caterpillars munch on elm leaves.
- **Parasitizes:** Dutch Elm Disease fungus (*Ophiostoma novo-ulmi*) — Causes a serious, often fatal, disease.
- **Shelter:** [Northern Cardinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-cardinal) (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) — Nests in its sturdy branches.

## 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.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.
- [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.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Stay away from the tree's branches and roots to avoid tripping.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Winged Elm?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Winged Elm?

900-1800 cm

### How wide does Winged Elm spread?

600-1200 cm

### When does Winged Elm bloom?

Early spring

### Is Winged Elm edible?

No

### Is Winged Elm toxic?

None

### What is Winged Elm's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Winged Elm pollinated?

Wind

## Where to spot

- [McGee Creek State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mcgee-creek-state-park) — Oklahoma, US · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Winged Elm: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/winged-elm)