What soil does Siberian elm grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, clay, calcareous.

Is Siberian elm hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Siberian elm be planted?

Plant it at least 7 m from buildings. Keep it at least 4 m from paving.

How far apart should Siberian elm be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 6 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 4 plants per metre.

When does Siberian elm flower?

Flowering: February–April, green, red.

How much water does Siberian elm need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

What should I plant instead of Siberian elm?

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. For a similar purpose we recommend: Field maple, Common alder, Field elm, Ginkgo.

Siberian elm

Ulmus pumila

Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) is a large tree. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €50. We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens.

Illustration of Siberian elm — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

An extremely fast-growing, small-leaved elm from Central and East Asia that tolerates drought, heat, saline and poor soil. It is sold mainly as a cheap clipped hedge that closes up within a few years, less often as a park tree. It ripens huge amounts of seed that the wind carries far, seedlings come up in masses around the garden and in the wild, and it crosses with the native field elm; the wood is brittle and a hedge needs clipping several times a year, so it is not advised.

We do not recommend this plant

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. Further down we show what to plant instead.

Watch out for

A spreading alien tree with invasive behaviour. It fruits heavily from the age of 5 or 6, the winged seeds ripen and fall in May, the wind carries them far and they germinate quickly on bare soil: masses of seedlings appear in beds, in paving cracks, along fences and on neighbouring land. In Central Europe it threatens dry steppe grasslands, saline habitats and riverbanks, where it quickly outgrows and displaces native plants; the Hungarian handbook of invasive plants treats it among the invasive species. In Europe it has been shown to hybridise with the native field elm, which threatens that species' genetic integrity. It is not on the Hungarian decree's list of invasive woody plants and planting it is not prohibited. A neglected hedge that is allowed to grow out also starts to fruit and shed seed. Other problems: soft, brittle wood with branches that break in wind and snow; resistant but not immune to Dutch elm disease; elm leaf beetle can badly damage the foliage, and leaf miners, scale insects, wilts and cankers also occur. As a hedge its very fast growth means clipping several times a year, otherwise it becomes unmanageable within a few years.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 9 m × 6 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D February–April, green, red

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	9 m × 6 m
Ultimate size	8–21 m × 6–15 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Clay, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	February–April, green, red
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	High
Suckering	no
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	at least 7 m
Distance from paving	at least 4 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	600 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €50

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

What to plant instead

Recommended plants that do the same job, with similar characteristics.

Field maple

Acer campestre 4.5 m × 3 m after 10 years

A native, undemanding small to medium tree that copes with drought, lime and clay, city air and hard clipping, and turns a good yellow in autumn. Left…

Small tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about €16

Common alder

Alnus glutinosa 8 m × 4 m after 10 years

A fast-growing native tree for wet, boggy places: a stream bank, a pond side or a low-lying, waterlogged corner where other trees fail. Bacteria…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about €42

Field elm

Ulmus minor 7 m × 4 m after 10 years

A native, fast growing tree of floodplains and lowlands that reaches 20 to 30 metres and copes well with drought, chalky soil, city air and occasional…

Large tree

Full sun

from about €45