The crown is open and rounded
with slender, spreading
branches. The leaves are small
(< 2 in.) alternate, simple,
singly-serrate, and dark-green
in color. The bark is light-gray
with irregular furrows. Siberian
elm invades pastures, roadsides,
and prairies throughout the
Midwest and Great Plains regions
of the United States. The trees
are very drought and cold
resistant allowing it to grow in
areas where other trees cannot.
The abundant, wind-dispersed
seeds allow this plant to spread
rapidly, forming dense thickets
that close open areas displacing
native vegetation and reducing
forage for wild animals and
livestock. Siberian elm is
native to northern Asia and was
first introduced into America in
the 1860s. It has been planted
throughout the Midwest and Great
Plains for windbreaks and
lumber.
In North America, Ulmus pumila is an invasive species, spreading from Utah east to Kansas and north to Ontario. It is found in abundance along railroads and in abandoned lots and on disturbed ground. The gravel along railroad beds provides ideal conditions for its growth: well-drained, nutrient poor soil, and high light conditions, and these beds provide corridors which facilitate its spread. Owing to its high sunlight requirements, it seldom invades mature forests, and is primarily a problem in cities and open areas.
In North America, Ulmus pumila is an invasive species, spreading from Utah east to Kansas and north to Ontario. It is found in abundance along railroads and in abandoned lots and on disturbed ground. The gravel along railroad beds provides ideal conditions for its growth: well-drained, nutrient poor soil, and high light conditions, and these beds provide corridors which facilitate its spread. Owing to its high sunlight requirements, it seldom invades mature forests, and is primarily a problem in cities and open areas.
