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Ulmus glabra

Wych Elm

Family UlmaceaeGenus Ulmus

A broad bare-branched elm against a clear winter sky
The whole plantRonnie NijboerCC0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreePlant Finder
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
70-100 ft21-30 mPlant Finder
Spread
50-70 ft15-21 mPlant Finder
Flower
Insignificant; reddish-greenPlant Finder
Blooms
March to AprilPlant Finder
Native range
Northern and central Europe, Asia MinorPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
4-6Plant Finder
Note
Ulmus glabra Huds. is the wych elm; Ulmus glabra Mill. is a different tree, a synonym of Ulmus minorGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunPlant Finder
Soil
Average, medium, well-drained; prefers rich, moist loamPlant Finder
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
MediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Wych comes from the Old English wice, pliant or supple, the same root as wicker and weak. The roots of one tree at Larg in Ayrshire, Scotland, have been traced 110 meters from the trunk. Wikipedia: Ulmus glabra
  • Highly susceptible to Dutch elm disease, and now uncommon over much of its former range. Edinburgh, where it was widely planted in the 19th century, still has it in abundance. Wikipedia: Ulmus glabra

This source reports 6 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.

96% germination in 4–6 days.

96% in under a week, with nothing done to it. Sow elm seed the day it ripens. Deno's fresh seed.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    73% -- it germinates in the cold.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

73% germination.

73% in the cold. Storage at 70 wrecks the warm route and improves this one. Seed dry-stored six months at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

65% germination.

65% sown warm. Storing at 40 leaves the warm route largely intact; storing at 70 does not. Seed dry-stored six months at 40.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    56%, over 2-4 weeks -- it germinates in the cold.

Germination happens during step 1, in 28 days.

56% germination in 14–28 days.

56% in the cold from fresh seed -- forty points behind simply sowing it warm. Deno's fresh seed.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    20% came up here. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    A further 46%.

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

46% germination.

20% in the cold and 46% after the move. Seed dry-stored six months at 40.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

14% germination.

14%. Six months dry at 70 costs this route eighty-two points against fresh seed. Seed dry-stored six months at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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