Mendel’s Gardens

Ulmus glabra

Wych Elm

Family UlmaceaeGenus Ulmus

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreePlant Finder
Habit
Perennial, TreePLANTS Database
Height
70-100 ftPlant Finder
Spread
50-70 ftPlant Finder
Flower
Insignificant; reddish-greenPlant Finder
Blooms
March to AprilPlant Finder
Native range
Northern and central Europe, Asia MinorPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
4-6Plant Finder
Note
Ulmus glabra Huds. is the wych elm; Ulmus glabra Mill. is a different tree, a synonym of Ulmus minorGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun
Soil
Average, medium, well-drained; prefers rich, moist loam
Watering
Medium

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

This source reports 6 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.

96% germination in 4–6 days.

96% in under a week, with nothing done to it. Sow elm seed the day it ripens. Deno's fresh seed.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    73% -- it germinates in the cold.

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

73% germination.

73% in the cold. Storage at 70 wrecks the warm route and improves this one. Seed dry-stored six months at 70.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

65% germination.

65% sown warm. Storing at 40 leaves the warm route largely intact; storing at 70 does not. Seed dry-stored six months at 40.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    56%, over 2-4 weeks -- it germinates in the cold.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

56% germination in 14–28 days.

56% in the cold from fresh seed -- forty points behind simply sowing it warm. Deno's fresh seed.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    20% came up here. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    A further 46%.

about 9 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

46% germination.

20% in the cold and 46% after the move. Seed dry-stored six months at 40.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

14% germination.

14%. Six months dry at 70 costs this route eighty-two points against fresh seed. Seed dry-stored six months at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, UlmusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ulmus (Ulmaceae). Fresh seed of U. glabra germ. 70(96% in 4-6 d) and 40(56% in 2-4 w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(14%) and 40(73%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70(65%) and 40(20%)-70(46%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ulmus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.