Side by side
European white elm or field elm? How to tell them apart
Ulmus laevis · Ulmus minor
How to tell them apart – European white elm: elm with flowers and fruits on long, hanging stalks that flutter in the wind, the trunk often has burrs and buttress roots; field elm: flowers and fruits almost stalkless, a wing without fringe, and often corky ridges.
How do you recognise them?
- European white elm
- Elm with flowers and fruits on long, hanging stalks that flutter in the wind; the trunk often has burrs and buttress roots.
- Field elm
- Elm with a fairly small, smooth and glossy leaf with a very lopsided base; twigs often with corky ridges, many root suckers.
- Compared with European white elm: flowers and fruits almost stalkless, a wing without fringe, and often corky ridges.
| European white elm | Field elm | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, 6–12 cm, oval with a very lopsided base, sharply double-toothed with forward-curving teeth; upper side fairly smooth, underside softly greyish-hairy. Leaf stalk 4–6 mm. | Alternate, 4–10 cm, oval to elliptic with a pointed tip, double-toothed; upper side smooth and glossy, underside with white tufts of hair in the vein axils. Very lopsided base; leaf stalk 5–15 mm. |
| Flowering | Clusters of flowers on long, hanging stalks (1–3 cm), in March before the leaves (March). | Clusters of small reddish flowers in March, before the leaves (March). |
| Fruit | Small (about 1 cm) winged fruits with a finely fringed edge, on long stalks; the seed sits in the middle. | Round to obovate winged fruits 1–1.5 cm long, with the seed near the top, close to the notch. |
| Bark | Grey-brown, in thin flakes; old trunks often have burrs, epicormic shoots and plank-like buttress roots at the base. | Grey-brown, furrowed lengthways into small blocks; young twigs and suckers often with conspicuous corky ridges. |
| Shape and height | Broadleaf tree, 20–30 m | Broadleaf tree, 15–30 m, often a shrub in hedges |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, moist to wet | Full sun, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | Yes | Yes |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | – |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | November–February | November–February |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Both are native and good for wildlife: choose what suits your soil, your light and the space you have.
- European white elm (20–30 m) and field elm (15–30 m) both grow into large trees: too big for an ordinary garden, but fine in a large garden, a park or a meadow.
Read on
- Plant profile: European white elm
- Plant profile: Field elm
- European white elm: when and how to prune
- Field elm: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
- European white elm or wych elm
- Chinese elm or field elm
- Field elm or Dutch elm
- Field elm or Japanese zelkova
- Field elm or wych elm
- Field elm or field maple
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.