Florida Elm
Ulmus floridana
Florida Elm may reach over fifty feet with a spreading crown. This southern variety of American Elm can be found in Martin, St. Lucie, Lee and Collier Counties. It is associated with moist inland hammocks mixed with Hackberry, Oaks, Slash Pine, Mulberry and Maple. It does not get Dutch Elm Disease.
The leaves of Florida Elm drop in late fall and the plant remains leafless until flowers and seeds form in early spring. The seeds are eaten by Painted Buntings and other birds and the young leaves are a larval food for the Question Mark Butterfly.
Florida Elm is easy to grow in average Palm Beach County soils and most likely south of there. If the soil is moist, an understory planting of Wild Coffee, Marlberry, Beautyberry, Saw Palmetto, Giant Leather Fern and shade tolerant grasses and low ferns will produce a pleasing effect. A bed of native Swamp, or Marsh Fern makes a nice understory just by themselves.
Although most people don’t like trees that lose their leaves, you may find the leafless tree in winter reminds you of the cool weather up north. Even though it may be 86 degrees out in mid November, standing under a leafless Florida Elm will make you feel almost cold.