# Wych Elm (*Ulmus glabra*)

The Wych Elm is a tall tree with rough leaves. Its branches are great for climbing and playing!

- **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Woodlands and hedgerows
- **Also known as:** Scotch Elm, Wych Elm Tree

![Wych Elm](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426626/objects/4799.jpg)

## Appearance

The Wych Elm has a broad, domed crown and rough, dark grey bark that develops fissures with age. Its distinctive dark green leaves are large, rough to the touch, and famously asymmetrical at their base, often with a pointed tip.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its wood is incredibly tough and water-resistant, historically used for wagon wheels and boats!
- The rough leaves of a Wych Elm were once used like sandpaper for polishing wood.
- Their distinctive winged seeds look like miniature green flying saucers hanging from branches.
- Wych Elms bloom tiny, petal-less red flowers in early spring, even before their leaves appear.

## Special abilities

- **Steep Slope Stabilizer:** Wych Elm has a deep, strong root system that anchors soil, helping it thrive on steep hillsides and prevent erosion.
- **Rapid Re-Sprouter:** Wych Elm can vigorously sprout new shoots from its base or roots if the main trunk is cut, allowing it to regenerate.
- **Wind-Powered Seeds:** Wych Elm produces winged seeds (samaras) that are easily carried by the wind, helping it spread and colonize new areas.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-40 m
- **Spread:** 10-20 m
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Size:** 60-150 cm
- **Lifespan:** 100-300 years
- **Fruit Type:** Samara
- **Growth Rate:** Medium
- **Leaf Type:** Deciduous

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Large Elm Bark Beetle (*Scolytus scolytus*) — Larvae tunnel and feed under the bark.
- **Eats:** Elm Leaf Miner Moth (*Phyllonorycter tristigella*) — Larvae create mines within its leaves.
- **Symbiotic with:** [Amethyst Deceiver](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst-deceiver) (*Laccaria amethystina*) — Forms mycorrhizal relationship with its roots.
- **Shelter:** [Eurasian Blue Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-blue-tit) (*Cyanistes caeruleus*) — Nests in its branches and feeds on insects.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [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.
- [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
- [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

- [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 Wych 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 Wych Elm?

20-40 m

### How wide does Wych Elm spread?

10-20 m

### Is Wych Elm edible?

Yes

### How big is Wych Elm?

60-150 cm

### How long does Wych Elm live?

100-300 years

### Where is Wych Elm usually found?

Woodlands and hedgerows

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

Samara

## Where to spot

- [Bavarian Forest Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bavarian-forest-nature-park) — Bayern, DE · Park
- [Naturpark Bayerische Rhön](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-bayerische-rhon) — Bayern, DE · Park
- [Naturpark Nagelfluhkette](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-nagelfluhkette) — Bayern, DE · Park
- [Picos de Europa National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/picos-de-europa-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park

[View all places to see Wych Elm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wych-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: [Wych Elm: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wych-elm)