Ulmus parvifolia 'Prairie Shade'

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Ulmus parvifolia 'Prairie Shade'
Species Ulmus parvifolia
Cultivar 'Prairie Shade'
OriginUS

The Chinese elm cultivar Ulmus parvifolia 'Prairie Shade' is an American clone selected in 1973 in Oklahoma by Carl E. Whitcomb and Gary G. Hickman of Oklahoma State University, from a trial planting of 800 lacebark elms. [1]

Contents

Description

The tree, distinguished by its strong central leader and upright growth when young, slowly becomes more spreading with age. [2] Specimens grown from cuttings attain about 9 m tall and 6 m wide aged 7 years. The dark green and leathery leaves of 'Prairie Shade' are smaller than the species type. [1]

Pests and diseases

The species and its cultivars are highly resistant, but not immune, to Dutch elm disease, and unaffected by the elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola . [3]

Cultivation

Whitcomb and Hickman reported that during the severe winter of 1983-84, 'Prairie Shade' was unharmed by temperatures of -22°C and -35°, where 'Drake' and 'Sempervirens' were severely damaged; and that 'Prairie Shade' had "performed well" in Lubbock, Texas; Guymon, Oklahoma; and Dodge City and Manhattan, Kansas. "To date, no wind or ice damage has occurred to any of the specimens. On 22 April 1984 the 7 m specimen in Manhattan, Kansas, was bent to a height of only 2 m during a severe ice storm without breakage and with complete recovery." [1] 'Prairie Shade' was, however, found to produce an unusually high quantity of fertile seed, considered an undesirable feature. [1] The tree is not known to be in cultivation beyond North America.

Accessions

None known.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Whitcomb, C. E. & Hickman, G. G. (1986), HortScience, 21: 162–163, 1986.
  2. ↑ Santamour, Frank S.; Bentz, Susan E. (May 1995). "Updated Checklist of Elm (Ulmus) Cultivars for use in North America". Journal of Arboriculture. 21 (3): 122–131. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Elm Leaf Beetle Survey". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  4. ↑ Whitcomb, Dr Carl E., 'Trees of Downtown Stillwater: The Lacebark Elm' (14 August 2024); drcarlwhitcomb.com



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