Fauna
Plant

Winged Elm

Ulmus alata

Also known as Wahoo, Cork Elm, Southern Rock Elm

Winged elms earn their name from the striking, thin corky ridges that run lengthwise along opposite sides of young branches and twigs. These resilient trees produce reddish-green flowers in late winter before their leaves emerge, quickly yielding papery samaras dispersed across the landscape by early spring breezes. While susceptible to Dutch elm disease, many individuals survive in dry uplands and abandoned pastures where poor soil prevents competition from larger canopy hardwoods.

DeciduousHardwoodNative
Winged Elm reference1 / 7
(c) Jason Sturner, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic (sunlight, water, and soil minerals)
Predators
  • Elm Leaf Beetle
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Spiny Elm Caterpillar
ThreatsDutch elm disease, elm phloem necrosis, and woody pasture competition
HabitatsDry rocky uplands, open woods, old pastures, fence rows, and floodplain margins
Life span100–150 years
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyUlmaceae
  3. GenusUlmus
  4. SpeciesUlmus alata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Identification: Check young branchlets for pairs of distinctive, thin corky ridges projecting outward along opposite sides.
  • Seasonal Timing: Look for dangling greenish-red flowers and small fuzzy seeds in late winter and early spring before leaves unfold.
Related species
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