Ulmus Glabra - Cultivation

Cultivation

The Wych elm is moderately shade-tolerant, but requires deep, rich soils as typically found along river valleys. However, the species is intolerant of flooding, as it is of prolonged drought. Although rarely used as a street tree owing to its shape, it can be surprisingly tolerant of urban air pollution, constricted growing conditions and severe pollarding, as evidenced by the survival of those in Tsimiski Avenue in central Thessaloniki, Greece.

As Wych elm does not sucker from the roots, and any seedlings are often consumed by uncontrolled deer populations, regeneration is very restricted, limited to sprouts from the stumps of young trees. The resultant decline has been extreme, and the Wych elm is now uncommon over much of its former range. It is best propagated from seed, although softwood cuttings taken in early June will root fairly reliably. Propagation from hardwood cuttings is notoriously difficult, even under mist conditions.