''Ulmus'' 'Columella' is a Dutch

elm Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus ''Ulmus'' in the family Ulmaceae. They are distributed over most of the Northern Hemisphere, inhabiting the temperate and tropical- montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ...

cultivar A cultivar is a kind of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and which retains those traits when Plant propagation, propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root a ...

raised by the Dorschkamp Research Institute for Forestry & Landscape Planning,

Wageningen Wageningen () is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and a historic city in the central Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland. It is famous for Wageningen University, which specialises in life sciences. The municipality had a ...

. Originally thought to have been derived from a selfed or openly pollinated seedling of the hybrid clone ' Plantyn', DNA analysis later determined it arose from a cross of 'Plantyn' and ''

Ulmus minor ''Ulmus minor'' Mill., the field elm, is by far the most polymorphic of the European species, although its taxonomy remains a matter of contention. Its natural range is predominantly south European, extending to Asia Minor and Iran; its norther ...

''. Sown in 1967, it was released for sale in 1989 after proving extremely resistant to Dutch elm disease following injection with unnaturally high doses of the pathogen, '' Ophiostoma novo-ulmi''.Tijdgat, M. (2020). Ulmus– Gebruikswaarde- en sortimentsonderzoek in de praktijk. (''Ulmus– Use, value, and range research in practice''. ) ''Dendroflora'' Nr. 56-2020, p. 98-99

However, propagated by

grafting Grafting or graftage is a horticulture, horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion () while the lower part is called the roots ...

onto

wych elm ''Ulmus glabra'', the wych elm or Scots elm, has the widest range of the European elm species, from Ireland eastwards to the Ural Mountains, and from the Arctic Circle south to the mountains of the Peloponnese and Sicily, where the species reac ...

rootstocks A rootstock is part of a plant, often an underground part, from which new above-ground growth can be produced. It could also be described as a stem with a well developed root system, to which a bud from another plant is grafted. It can refer to ...

, graft failure owing to incompatibility has become a common occurrence in the Netherlands.

Description

'Columella' makes a tall,

fastigiate This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary ...

tree with very upright branches, but broadens in later year

http://www.kemphaan.nl/boomverhalen/wg.php?meer=60]. The rough, rounded, and twisted leaves, < long, are the result of a Dominance (genetics), recessive gene inherited from its

Exeter elm ''Ulmus'' 'Exoniensis', the Exeter elm, was discovered near Exeter, England, in 1826, and propagated by the Ford & Please nursery in that city.Bean, W. J. (1981). ''Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain'', 7th edition. Murray, LondonRichens, R ...

ancestor, and are arranged in asymmetric clusters on short branchlets. The

samara Samara, formerly known as Kuybyshev (1935–1991), is the largest city and administrative centre of Samara Oblast in Russia. The city is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Samara (Volga), Samara rivers, with a population of over 1.14 ...

e, broadly obovate, are long by 10–12 mm wide. Image:Columella leaves 1.jpg Image:Columella flowers.jpg Image:Columella samarae.jpg

Pests and diseases

Rated 5 out of 5,Heybroek, H. M., Goudzwaard, L, Kaljee, H. (2009). ''Iep of olm, karakterboom van de Lage Landen'' (:Elm, a tree with character of the Low Countries). KNNV, Uitgeverij. 'Columella' has a very high resistance to Dutch elm disease.

Cultivation

Wind resistant, the tree has been planted throughout the Netherlands, where its columnar shape has made it popular as a

street tree Urban forestry is the care and management of single trees and tree populations in Urban area, urban settings for the purpose of improving the urban environment. Urban forestry involves both planning and management, including the programming of ...

. It is commonly found in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

, where it has been widely planted as a replacement for the similarly fastigiate Guernsey Elm, ''U. minor'' 'Sarniensis'br>
itself a replacement for the Belgian Elm, Ulmus 'Belgica', ''Ulmus × hollandica'' 'Belgica', which had succumbed so readily to the earlier strain of Dutch elm disease after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. 'Columella' has also been planted to replace Guernsey Elm in

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

.Established 'Columella' plantings in Castle Terrace and Glengyle Terrace; recent plantings in Bellevue Place and

Bruntsfield Links Bruntsfield Links is of open parkland in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, immediately to the south-west of the adjoining Meadows. Unlike The Meadows, which formerly contained a loch drained by the end of the 18th century, Bruntsfield Links has always ...

. In trials conducted by

Butterfly Conservation Butterfly Conservation (BC) is a UK-wide nonprofit environmentalist organization and charity dedicated to conserving butterflies, moths, and the environment. The charity uses its research to provide advice on how to conserve and restore butterf ...

in southern

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...

, England, 'Columella' was the only cultivar to become distressed during the drought of 2006, shedding most of its foliage by early August; a trait possibly inherited from one of the tree's ancestors, the Himalayan elm ''

Ulmus wallichiana ''Ulmus wallichiana'' Planch., the Himalayan elm, also known as the Kashmir elm and Bhutan elm, is a mountain tree ranging from central Nuristan in Afghanistan, through northern Pakistan and northern India to western Nepal at elevations of 800&n ...

''. 'Columella' first flowered aged 8 years, in March; the resultant seeds were found to have a moderate viability. Butterfly Conservation (2023). ''Disease-resistant elm cultivars'

Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, England.Brookes, A. H. (2022). ''Great Fontley Elm Trial, 2022 Report''. Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, UK. 'Columella' featured in New Zealand government trials during the 1990s at the Hortresearch station,

Palmerston North Palmerston North (; , colloquially known as Palmerston or Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatū Plains, the city is near the north bank of the Manaw ...

. File:Station Schinnen (2024)-2.jpg, 'Columella' at Schinnen railway station (2024) File:Maashaven Noordzijde DSCF0044.JPG, 'Columella' in the Maashaven, Rotterdam (2015)

Hybrid cultivars

*Clone FL 666 ( Heybroek's 405* × 'Columella'), ',

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

. Not in commerce. *(''U. × hollandica'' × ''U. minor'') *Clone FL 589 ( 'San Zanobi' × 'Columella'), Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante, Florence. Not in commerce.

Etymology

The hybrid is named for the Roman agronomist

Columella Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (, Arabic: ) was a prominent Roman writer on agriculture in the Roman Empire. His in twelve volumes has been completely preserved and forms an important source on Roman agriculture and ancient Roman cuisin ...

, who introduced the Atinian elm (now more commonly known as the

English elm The field elm (''Ulmus minor'') cultivar 'Atinia' , commonly known as the English elm, formerly common elm and horse may, Republished 1978 by EP Publishing, Wakefield. and more lately the Atinian elm, was, before the spread of Dutch elm dis ...

) to Spain from Italy circa .

Accessions

North America

United States National Arboretum The United States National Arboretum is an arboretum in northeast Washington, D.C., operated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. It was established in 1927 by an act of Congress after a campaign by USDA ...

, Washington, D.C., US. Acc. no. Q28832 (quarantine)

Europe

Monthodon, France. No details available. *

Brighton and Hove Brighton and Hove ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority area, ceremonially in East Sussex, England. There are multiple villages alongside the seaside resorts of Brighton and Hove in the district. It is administe ...

City Council, UK.

Plant Heritage Plant Heritage, formerly known as the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG), is a registered charity and a botanical conservation organisation in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1978 to combine the talents of bot ...

Elm Collection. East Drive, Queen's Park. *

Grange Farm Arboretum The Grange Farm Arboretum is a small private arboretum comprising 3 hectares accommodating over 800 trees, mostly native and ornamental species or cultivars, notably oaks, ashes, walnuts and elms, growing on a calcareous loam.Ostler, J. (2009) ...

Sutton St James Sutton St James is a village and civil parish in the South Holland, Lincolnshire, South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England, about south-west of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, Long Sutton. Lying in the Lincolnshire Fens, Sutton St James did ...

, Spalding,

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (), abbreviated ''Lincs'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England. It is bordered by the East Riding of Yorkshire across the Humber estuary to th ...

, UK. Acc. no. 818. *Great

Fontley Funtley – from the Anglo-Saxon, "Funtaleg", " spring field (clearing)", is a hamlet or exurb north of Fareham, Hampshire, England. It forms a projection towards the South Downs National Park and is generally included within Fareham's popul ...

Fareham Fareham ( ) is a market town at the north-west tip of Portsmouth Harbour, between the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton in south east Hampshire, England. It gives its name to the Borough of Fareham. It was historically an important manufac ...

, UK.

Elm Trials plantation, planted 2003. *

Wijdemeren City Council Wijdemeren () is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland, on the western border of the Gooi region. Wijdemeren contains many lakes, including ''Spiegelplas'' and ''Ankeveense Plassen'' in the north(east) and ''Loosdrech ...

, Netherlands. Elm Collection, first 3 planted ~1990

Loosdrecht Loosdrecht () is a town in the municipality of Wijdemeren, North Holland, the Netherlands, with a population of about 8,600 inhabitants. Loosdrecht consists of two small villages: Nieuw-Loosdrecht and Oud-Loosdrecht. Nieuw Loosdrecht covers a ...

Nurseries

Europe

*Batouwe Boomkwekerijen B.V

Dodewaard Dodewaard is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is a part of the municipality of Neder-Betuwe, and lies about 7 km south of Wageningen. Dodewaard extends south from national highway A15(exit 36 Dodewaard-Opheusden) and sits a ...

, Netherlands. Potted whips. *Boomwekerijen 'De Batterijen

Ochten Ochten is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is a part of the municipality of Neder-Betuwe, and lies about 10 km southwest of Wageningen. Ochten was a separate municipality until 1818, when it was divided into two parts, Ech ...

, Netherlands. *Boomkwekerij 't Herenlan

Randwijk Overbetuwe () is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. It was formed on 1 January 2001 as a merger of three former municipalities: Elst, Gelderland, Elst, ...

, Netherlands. *Coles Nurserie

Thurnby Thurnby is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Thurnby and Bushby, in the Harborough district, in the county of Leicestershire, England. It is just east of Leicester's city boundaries. Thurnby village proper is set to th ...

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...

, UK. * Hillier Nurseriesbr>

Ampfield Ampfield is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Test Valley in Hampshire, England, between Romsey, Eastleigh, and Winchester. It had a population at the 2001 census of 1,474, increasing to 1,583 at the 2011 Census. The civil parish of ...

, UK. *Lorenz von Ehren,

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

, Germany

*Noordplan

Glimmen Glimmen is a village in the northeastern Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Groningen, about 10 kilometres from the city. It had a population of around 1,342 in 2021. The river Drentsche Aa flows past the village, nearby the ''Huis t ...

, Netherlands. *Paramount Plants & Gardens Lt

Enfield, London, Enfield, London, UK. *PlantenTuin Esvel

Boskoop Boskoop () is a town in the province of South Holland. It was a separate municipality until it merged into Alphen aan den Rijn in 2014. The town had a population of 15,050 in 2012 and covers an area of of which is water. It's the world's bigges ...

, Netherlands. *UmbraFlo

Spello Spello (in Antiquity: Hispellum) is an ancient town and ''comune'' (township) of Italy, in the province of Perugia in eastern-central Umbria, on the lower southern flank of Monte Subasio. It is 6 km (4 mi) NNW of Foligno and 10 k ...

, Italy. *Van Den Berk (UK) Ltd.

London, UK *Westerveld Boomkwekerij B.

Opheusden, Netherlands.

References

{{Elm species, varieties, hybrids, hybrid cultivars and species cultivars , state=collapsed Hybrid elm cultivar Ulmus articles with images Ulmus