Tree Description
Cedar elms are large trees growing to 75 feet in height with a tall, straight trunk 2 to 3 feet in diameter. They have stiff branches that form a narrow, oblong crown.
Range / Site Description
These trees are the most common elm tree in Texas, distributed widely in East, South, and Central Texas. They are most often found near streams, in solid stands on flatwoods near rivers, or on dry limestone hills. They are also planted widely as landscape trees.
Leaf
The leaves are simple and alternate, 1” to 2.5” long, oval to elliptical in shape, finely-toothed or double-toothed along the margin, and blunt at the tip. The leaf’s upper surface is dark green, shiny, and rough; the underside and the petiole are pubescent. Twigs sometimes have thin, corky “wings”. The leaves turn gold or orange-red in the fall.
Flower & Fruit
Flowers appear in late summer or autumn as hairy, short-stalked clusters in the leaf axils.
The fruit is an oval “samara,” ¼” to ½” long, with the seed centered in the middle of the wing; it is deeply notched at the tip and hairy all over, especially along the margin. Seeds are borne in the fall, which distinguishes this species from the other native elms.
Interesting Facts
Species Summary
| Scientific Name: | Ulmus crassifolia |
| Secondary Names: | Texas Elm |
| Tree Type: | Deciduous |
| Dimensions: | Height: 75 feet Trunk Diameter: 2-3 feet |
| Leaf Structure: | Simple, alternate |
| Leaf Size: | 1-2½ inches long |
| Leaf Shape: | Oval or elliptical |
| Leaf Margin: | Finely-toothed or double-toothed |
| Additional Information: | iNaturalist – Cedar Elm |
Source: Texas A&M Forest Service Trees of Texas – Cedar Elm