Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens' explained

Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens'
Species:Ulmus glabra
Cultivar:'Lutescens'
Origin:England

The Wych Elm cultivar Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens', commonly known as the Golden Wych Elm, arose as a sort of a wych found in the York area in the early 19th century by W. Pontey of Pontey's nursery, Kirkheaton, Huddersfield, who propagated and distributed it. The original tree he named the Gallows Elm for its proximity to a gallows near York. Loudon in The Gardener's Magazine (1839) identified it as a form of Ulmus montana (:U. glabra Huds.), adding 'Lutescens' by analogy with Corstorphine sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanus 'Lutescens'.[1] [2]

For a time the tree was known in nurseries both in Europe and America as U. americana aurea, probably on account of its shape, and for marketing reasons.[2] [3]

Not to be confused with two other popular cultivars named 'Golden Elm', Ulmus × hollandica 'Wredei' and Ulmus 'Louis van Houtte'.

Description

A medium-sized, fast-growing deciduous tree that reaches a height of approximately 15 m with a spread of about 20 m. In its first years, the tree is vase-shaped, but spreads as it matures to form a rounded canopy. The hue of the leaves varies according to light intensity: where exposed to full sunlight the leaves are bright yellow, but in shade no more than a lime green. 'Lutescens' is arguably the best of the golden elm cultivars since it keeps its colour as it ages.

Pests and diseases

The cultivar is not known to be any less susceptible to Dutch elm disease than the species. It is highly susceptible to the elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola.[4]

Cultivation

'Lutescens' was once commonly planted in the UK, and remains in cultivation there and in Europe. It was marketed in the late 19th century as U. montana lutescens by the Späth nursery of Berlin[5] and by the Ulrich nursery of Warsaw,[6] whence it was introduced to Eastern Europe, where it may still survive. It was introduced to the Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, Canada, probably from Späth, in 1897, as U. montana lutescens.[7] Introduced to Australia and New Zealand[8] in the early 1900s (it has been widely planted in south-east Australia),[9] it remains in cultivation in those countries as Golden Elm,[10] often being grafted on to Ulmus parvifolia rootstock. In Australasia 'Lutescens' has sometimes been mistakenly sold by nurseries under the name 'Louis van Houtte', a smaller-leaved golden elm.[11]

Notable trees

There are two notable TROBI Champion trees in England, at Pickering Park, Anlaby, measuring 16 m high by 79 cm d.b.h. in 2004, and in Dyke Road Place, Brighton, 16 m high by 76 cm d.b.h. in 2006.[12] A fine old specimen stands close to Kruispunt Europaweg-Kerkenweg, Nieuw Schoonebeek, Drenthe, Netherlands.[13] In Australia notable specimens grow in Williamstown Botanic Gardens, Williamstown, Victoria,[14] [15] in Howard Vineyard, Nairne, South Australia,[16] [17] and at 'Poacher's Pantry', Hall, Canberra,[18] [19] and there is a mature tree in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart.[20] [21]

Synonymy

  • Ulmus scabra f. lutescens Dipp..[23]
  • Ulmus macrophylla aurea: Kelsey's of N.Y., 1904 cat.[24]
  • Ulmus glabra latifolia aurea Schelle[25] [26]

Accessions

Europe

Australasia

Nurseries

Europe

Widely available.

Australasia

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The gardener's magazine and register of rural & domestic improvement. J. C. (John Claudius). Loudon. 29 March 1826. London : Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green. 29 March 2022. Archive.org.
  2. Book: Elwes. Henry John. Henry John Elwes. Henry. Augustine. Augustine Henry. 1913. The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. 7. 1868.
  3. Web site: Bobbink & Atkins [catalog]]. 29 March 1909. Rutherford, N.J. : Bobbink & Atkins. 29 March 2022. Archive.org.
  4. Web site: Xanthogaleruca luteola - Wikimedia Commons. commons.wikimedia.org. 29 March 2022.
  5. Book: 1902–1903. Katalog. L. Späth Baumschulenweg. Berlin, Germany. 108. 132–133.
  6. Ulrich, C. (1894), Katalog Drzew i Krezewow, C. Ulrich, Rok 1893-94, Warszawa
  7. Book: Saunders. William. Macoun. William Tyrrell. Catalogue of the trees and shrubs in the arboretum and botanic gardens at the central experimental farm. 1899. 2. 74–75. Ottawa.
  8. Mike. Wilcox. Chris. Inglis. Auckland Botanical Society Journal. Auckland's elms. 58. 1. 2003. 38–45. Auckland Botanical Society.
  9. Web site: Elm Trees - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online. Department of History. School of Historical Studies. Emelbourne.net.au. 29 March 2022.
  10. Rowell, Raymond J. (1982). Ornamental Flowering Trees in Australia, AH & AW Reed Pty Ltd
  11. Spencer, R., Hawker, J. and Lumley, P. (1991). Elms in Australia. Australia: Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.
  12. Johnson, O. (2011). Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland, p. 169. Kew Publishing, Kew, London. .
  13. https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/trees/ulmusglabra/5_lutescens/ Wych Elm 'Lutescens', Drenthe, Netherlands; monumentaltrees.com
  14. Web site: Redirect Notice. Google.com. 29 March 2022.
  15. Web site: Williamstown Botanic Gardens. Weekendnotes.com. 29 March 2022.
  16. Web site: Private Site. Mcfuzzlebuttsmanchen.wordpress.com. 29 March 2022.
  17. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-01-06 . 2015-01-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150106163357/https://mcfuzzlebuttsmanchen.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/img_1998-wordpress.jpg . dead .
  18. Web site: Poachers Pantry Wedding Open Night. JPG. Weekendnotes.com. 29 March 2022.
  19. Web site: Poachers Pantry Wedding Open Night. Weekendnotes.com. 29 March 2022.
  20. Web site: golden elm. 6 January 2013. 29 March 2022. Flickr.com.
  21. Web site: 20130331-19-Golden elm tree. 31 March 2013. 29 March 2022. Flickr.com.
  22. F. J.. Fontaine. Ulmus. Dendroflora. 1968. 5. 37–55. 30 August 2017.
  23. Krüssman, Gerd, Manual of Cultivated Broad-Leaved Trees & Shrubs (1984 vol. 3)
  24. Web site: General catalogue, 1904 : choice hardy trees, shrubs, evergreens, roses, herbaceous plants, fruits, etc.. 29 March 1904. New York : Frederick W. Kelsey. 29 March 2022. Archive.org.
  25. Book: Beissner. Handbuch der Laubholz-Benennung. Schelle. Zabel. Verlagsbuchhandlung Paul Parey. 1903. Berlin. 84.
  26. https://bioportal.naturalis.nl/specimen/L.1587120/term=L.1587120&from=0 Ulmus latifolia aurea, bioportal.naturalis.nl, specimen L.1587120
  27. Web site: List of plants in the collection. Brighton & Hove City Council. 23 September 2016.

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