Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens'

Ulmus glabra
File:RN glabra Lutescens (vinkeleskade amsterdam).jpg 'Lutescens' (felled c. 2005), Vinkeleskade, Amsterdam.
Cultivar	'Lutescens'
Origin	England

The Wych Elm cultivar Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens', commonly known as the Golden Wych Elm, arose as a sport of wych elm in York. The original tree was known as the Gallows Elm because of its proximity to the gallows in that city.

Description

A medium-sized, fast-growing deciduous tree that reaches a height of approximately 15 metres with a spread of about 20 metres. 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. Ergo: 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 as 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.

Cultivation

'Lutescens' was once commonly planted in the UK, and it has been widely planted in south-eastern Australia and New Zealand, where it remains in cultivation as Golden Elm, often being grafted on to Ulmus parvifolia rootstock. In Australasia 'Lutescens' has sometimes been mistakenly sold by nurseries under the name 'Louis van Houtte'. The tree was also known to have been marketed in Poland in the 19th century by the Ulrich nursery, Warsaw. 'Lutescens' is not known in North America.

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. In Australia notable specimens grow in Williamstown Botanic Gardens, Williamstown, Victoria, in Howard Vineyard, Nairne, South Australia, and at 'Poacher's Pantry', Hall, Canberra, and there is a mature tree in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart. Four trees stand in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand.

• RN Ulmus glabra Lutescens leaves.jpg

  'Lutescens' leaves

• Ballarat Building 003.JPG

  A young Golden Elm, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

• Chess on Cathedral Square.jpg

  Golden Elms, Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand

Synonymy

• Ulmus americana aurea: Calmphtout Nursery, Belgium, in error.
• Ulmus campestris lutescens: Dieck, (Zöschen, Germany), Haupt. Cat. 1885, p. 81.
• Ulmus campestris 'Lutescens': Boom, Ned. Dendr. 1: 157, 1959.

Accessions

Europe

• Dubrava Arboretum, Lithuania. No details available.
• Grange Farm, Sutton St. James, Spalding, Lincolnshire, UK. Acc. No. 513
• Hortus Botanicus Nationalis, Salaspils, Latvia. Acc. nos. 18108,09,10,11.
• Royal Horticultural Society Gardens, Wisley, UK. Two specimens.
• Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK. No details available.
• Tallinn Botanic Garden, Estonia [8]. No accession details available.
• Westonbirt Arboretum [9], Tetbury, Glos., UK. No planting date or acc. no. available.
• Brighton & Hove City Council, UK, NCCPG elm collection [10]. Dyke Road Place, Brighton.
• Wijdemeren City Council, Netherlands, Elm Collection. Planted Vreedenburggaarde, Kortenhoef 2009.

Australasia

• Avenue of Honour, Ballarat, Australia
• New South Wales, Australia: Planted in many towns (on streets, in public and private gardens) and still sold in many nurseries. Towns include Albury, Bowral and Orange.
• Victoria, Australia: Planted in many towns in public and private locations. Still sold by many of the state's nurseries.
• South Australia: Examples found in Mount Gambier and Adelaide.
• Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart.

Nurseries

Europe

Widely available.

Australasia

• Established Tree Planters Pty. Ltd., [11], Wandin, Victoria, Australia.
• Fleming's Nursery [12], Monbulk, Victoria, Australia.