A plant ID question from Margaret

[wendyvyoung4]

A week ago, my walking group was down at Lazo Beach/Pt. Holmes and saw a group of very unusual trees. They are on the road side against the fence enclosing the RV park on Hutton Road, just off the west end of Lazo Rd. The branches on the trees look almost like cactus and are segmented. The newer growth looks quite normal. One remaining leaf was purplish and rather like an ornamental plum tree.

Are you able to identify the trees from my photos or explain why the older branches look somewhat diseased?

Margaret F

[CVHS]

We have forwarded your question onto the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners. Thanks!

[CVHS]

Thank you to the Master Gardener volunteers from Gardening Advice Line, a partnership between Milner Gardens & Woodland and the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association for the following information:

Hello Margaret,

The tree in your photos appears to be a type of elm. Our best guess as to type is Field Elm, or Ulmus minor. One of our Master Gardeners lives near this location and was able to visit to take a look. A photo of one of the leaves is included below - notice how the leaves have serrated edges: This serration is indicative of elms.

The corky ridges or “wings” you are seeing on older branches and trunk are consistent with this type of elm (and some other elms, though they are not usually found in this region) and aren’t indicative of disease.

Field elm is known for being polymorphic, or having more than one common form: some consider English Elm and Field Elm to be the same species with subtle differences in leaves, and there is debate around this classification. Many elms are able to hybridize with each other. There are multiple cultivars of Field Elm as well. These factors can make identification difficult.

Field Elm is an introduced species in BC, and has been observed elsewhere on Vancouver Island as well as on the mainland, according to verified iNaturalist records. Some other types of elm (Siberian, Chinese) are considered invasive in parts of BC, but not this particular species at this time.

The Invasive Species Council of BC tracks observations of all elms in BC on iNaturalist. The main concern in tracking species of elm is related to the spread of Dutch Elm Disease. We were able to include photos of these elms along Lazo and Hutton in their tracking project, thanks to your observation of this tree.

Thank you for your question and showing us this very interesting specimen.

Sincerely,

Vancouver Island Master Gardener Volunteers

Sources for this answer:

iNaturalist Elm (Ulmus) Observations in BC: Observations · iNaturalist

North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Field Elm - Ulmus minor | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Observatree UK: Elms https://observatree.org.uk/media/1788/hotm-june-2023-elm.pdf

BC Landscape & Nursery Association: Dutch Elm Disease Dutch Elm Disease

Invasive Species Council of BC’s Invasives Tracking Project on iNaturalist: Tell us about your trees! · iNaturalist

[wendyvyoung4]

Thank you for your detailed reply and the interesting links.

Wendy

[wendyvyoung4]

Thank you Master Gardener for the detailed reply. We had already decided we need to watch that group of trees during several seasons to check it out. Many thanks for taking the time to solve our question.

Margaret