Identifying Characteristics
| Habitat: | Winged elms adapt well to both dry, gravely soils or moist, well-drained areas. They are commonly found in upland woods and flood plains. |
| Size/Form: | Winged elm is a medium to large, deciduous tree that grows from 40' to 60' tall and forms a vase-like shape, with lateral branches and a rounded, open crown. The tree is characterized by corky, wing-like growths along many of the branches. |
| Bark: | The bark is a brownish-gray color, often with a greenish cast. It has tight vertical plates, curvy furrows, and flat ridges. |
| Leaves: | The leaves are simple, alternate, and oval to narrowly elliptical, from 1" to 3½" long. Leaf margins are doubly serrate. Leaves are dark green with a smooth upper surface and paler, hairy undersides. Leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. |
| Fruit: | The fruit is a flat, hairy, reddish-orange samara, about 1/3" long, surrounded by a narrow wing. It appears in late winter (February and March) before the leaves emerge on the tree. |