
Slippery Elm
Ulmus rubra

Slippery Elm, Ulmus rubra The slippery elm makes a good shade tree, but when its roots from the neighbors come into my garden and send up saplings (clones) they are weeds.  A good thing about the neighbors elm is that it provides a nursery for the mourning cloak butterflies .

Slippery Elm, Ulmus rubra These are the flowers of the slippery elm.  Most people don't think of flowers on elms.  They are quite small and not especially pretty.

Slippery Elm, Ulmus rubra This shows flowers maturing into fruit.  The flowers don't have to be showy since they are pollinated by wind.

Slippery Elm, Ulmus rubra Here is the fruit of the slippery elm tree.  They have wings because like the pollen, the fruit travels on the wind.

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