This attractive tree is also known as Fluttering Elm, on account of its dangling flowers and seeds that move in the slightest breeze.

Native across a broad central swathe of Europe, including France, Belgium, Germany and Poland, but infrequent in Spain and Italy and no further north than Denmark. A neophyte in Britain and Ireland (introduced c.1800), it is infrequent and naturalised only in southern Britain.

Monoecious. Wind-pollinated. Wind-dispersed. Also reproduces by vigorous suckering habit. At home in wet woodlands and on riverbanks.

Tall (32m), with a wide-spreading crown and strong, sinuous, fairly sparse upper branches. Bark brown-grey, developing long fissures and fine scaly plates, often with burrs and epicormic shoots. Twigs initially grey-downy; buds long, pointed. Leaves 6-13cm, slender and obovate, with 12-18 vein pairs, slightly rough above and downy below, with hooked double teeth and a strongly asymmetric base. Flowers and fruits in dense clusters on long pendulous stalks; samaras hair-fringed with a two-horned tip. American Elm differs: less downy, less asymmetric leaves.

Unlike most elms, thrives in waterlogged soils. Tolerant of pollution.

No notable associations where introduced.

Often less affected by DED than many other elm species, not because of resistance to the fungus, but because of the presence of the compound taraxerol in its bark, which deters elm bark beetles.

Its timber lacks the quality of Field Elm and Wych Elm. Useful in amenity plantings, with its rapid growth plus tolerance of compacted soils and pollution.