Ulmus minor 'Silvery Gem'

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Ulmus minor 'Silvery Gem'
Species Ulmus minor
Cultivar 'Silvery Gem'
OriginEurope

The field elm cultivar Ulmus minor 'Silvery Gem' is an ornamental clone raised, as Ulmus carpinifolia 'Silvery Gem', before 1965 by P. G. Zwijnenburg of Zwijnenburg nurseries, Boskoop, The Netherlands. [1]

Contents

Description

A moderately tall growing shrub, reaching about 3–4 m (9.8–13.1 ft) in 10 years and with rather dense, twiggy branches bearing ovate leaves of a grey-green or silvery colour, especially in the spring, with irregular but conspicuous creamy-white margins. [2] The colouring and variegation are most striking in spring, fading somewhat in summer. [1] [3] [4]

Pests and diseases

'Silvery Gem' is not known to be resistant to Dutch elm disease,[ citation needed ] but the low height of the tree may ensure that it avoids colonization by Scolytus bark beetles and thus remain free of infection. It has been noted that shrub-elms are usually less prone to infection. [5]

Cultivation

The clone won a Golden Medal in The Netherlands in the mid-1960s. [1] It remains available from several nurseries in Europe (see below).

Synonymy

Nurseries

Europe

Related Research Articles

References

  1. 1 2 3 Grogtendorst, Herman J. (1971). "Tentoonstelling Flora Nova '70". Dendroflora. 8: 73. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  2. "Herbarium specimen - WAG.1878119". Botany catalogues. Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Herbarium specimen labelled U. carpinifolia 'Silvery Gem' (Boskoop, 1966)
  3. 1 2 Hilliers' Manual of Trees & Shrubs. (1977). David & Charles, Newton Abbot, UK.
  4. Photograph and description of Ulmus minor 'Silvery Gem': Ronald Houtman, Variegated trees and shrubs: the illustrated encyclopedia (Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, in association with the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society), p.285
  5. Rafaël Govaerts, Kris Michielsen and Eike Jablonski, 'Untraced weeping broadleaf cultivars: an overview', dendrology.lu