Ulmus Morton – Accolade™ Elm

Botanical Name: Ulmus Morton

The Accolade Elm (Ulmus Morton) is a vigorous growing medium to large sized deciduous tree with a vase-shaped growth habit. The branches have an upward growth habit with elegant arching. It grows to a height of 50-60 feet with a spread of 25-40 feet.

This elm is a selection from the Chicagoland Grows® program. It is a cross between Ulmus japonica (Japanese Elm) and Ulmus wilsoniana (Wilson’s Elm). This hybrid was first planted at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois in 1924.

The leaves are oval to elliptical in shape and an attractive shiny, dark green. They measure 4 inches long and 2 inches wide with serrated margins and the asymmetrical leaf base typical of elm leaves. The leaves put on a showy fall display turning bright shades of yellow.

The flowers are green, small, and inconspicuous – like those of most elm trees. They bloom in March before the leaves grow in. The fruits are single-seeded, oval winged samaras that mature in April or May. The gray bark is gray with brown colored furrows and gray ridges.

Accolade Elm is tolerant of dry or wet soils as well as urban pollution – making it a good selection for a street tree. It has good resistance to Dutch Elm disease, the elm leaf beetle, and the elm leaf miner.