Native to Russia and northern China, Siberian elms have been widely introduced across the globe; unfortunately, they are now classified as an invasive species in most areas. Since it is a hardy tree that favors a cool, dry climate with abundant sunshine, this elm is common along the Front Range.
We have six large Siberian elms and numerous offspring on our Littleton farm; the latter often grow in bushy clusters. Since seed production is abundant and since these trees also spread by suckering, they are truly "weed trees" that must be pruned to prevent them from crowding out other vegetation. On the other hand, many songbirds, especially finches and siskins, feast on their buds and seeds each spring.
Fast growing, Siberian elms often develop dead zones and thus drop a significant amount of woody debris in the course of a year; they also leaf out in early spring and hold their leaves well into autumn, making them especially prone to snow damage. Fortunately, our large elms are not near the house and their fallen branches just become additions to our numerous log and brush piles.
