The

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

elm

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...

''Ulmus × intermedia'' 'Fremont' is a little-known American

propagated from a tree found on the Lloyd Moffet property (formerly the Plumfield Nurseries) at

Fremont, Nebraska Fremont is a city and county seat of Dodge County in the eastern portion of the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. The population was 27,141 at the 2020 census. Fremont is the home of Midland University. History From the 1830 ...

. The hybrid is believed to have arisen from a crossing of ''

Ulmus pumila ''Ulmus pumila'', the Siberian elm, is a tree native to Asia. It is also known as the Asiatic elm and dwarf elm, but sometimes miscalled the 'Chinese Elm' ('' Ulmus parvifolia''). ''U. pumila'' has been widely cultivated throughout Asia, No ...

'' (female parent) and one of the spring-flowering elms native to North America,Dodge, A. F. (1960). ''Woody ornamental and shelter plants for the North Central Region 1954–1959: Five year report on regional plantings of Fremont Hybrid Elm''. USDA - ARS, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USAPellett, H. (1954) ''Historical overview of the NC7 trials''
/ref> probably ''

Ulmus rubra ''Ulmus rubra'', the slippery elm, is a species of elm native to eastern North America. Other common names include red elm, gray elm, soft elm, moose elm, and Indian elm. Description ''Ulmus rubra'' is a medium-sized deciduous tree with a spre ...

''. The source tree was probably an unsold specimen of the Plumfield Nurseries' "Hybrid Elm", a cross between "Chinese elm" (as ''U. pumila'' was then called) and Red elm ''U. rubra'', briefly marketed from 1942 to 1943,Plumfield Nurseries, Fremont, Nebraska, 1943 catalogue, p.22
/ref> but not appearing in later catalogues. This hybrid may have been the same as the cultivar sourced from Plumfield Nurseries at this time as "Hybrid Chinese Elm" and later marketed by the Interstate Nurseries, Hamburg, Iowa, as 'Hamburg'.

Description

'Fremont' was described as having a single-stemmed structure. Plumfield Nurseries described their "Hybrid Elm" as "very uniform" in habit and growth, "as rapid a grower as Chinese elm, with larger leaves and heavier limbs than Chinese and not so apt to break under heavy snows or sleet.Plumfield Nurseries, Fremont, Nebraska: Wholesale trade list, Spring 1942; p.17
/ref>

Pests and diseases

During the five-year USDA - ARS North Central Region trial period, there was no indication of any disease or insect pests. However, there is no record of the tree having been scientifically tested by inoculation for resistance to

Dutch elm disease Dutch elm disease (DED) is caused by a member of the sac fungi (Ascomycota) affecting elm trees, and is spread by elm bark beetles. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease was accidentally introduced into Americas, America ...

Cultivation

USDA trial

The USDA - ARS North Central Region trial in the 1950s saw 50 plants of this clone, obtained from the L. R. Sjulin Inter-State Nurseries of Hamburg, Iowa, established at 29 sites in the seven states. As a consequence of the trial, 'Fremont' was considered suitable for planting across the north central region, with the exception of North Dakota and the extreme north of Minnesota. The clone was recommended as a specimen tree for urban lawns and streets, particularly 'in situations requiring quick shade'. However, the tree does not appear to have been a commercial success. Three specimens planted at the

University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum The University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum is a teaching and research facility of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the site of historic research in ecological restoration. In addition to its in Madison, Wisconsin (located about fou ...

in 1957 died or were removed owing to storm damage or poor branching. Sites reporting survival after five years included Fargo, ND, Hays, KS, Benkleman, NE, Madison, WI, Ames, IA, Highmore, SD, Colby, KS, Hastings, NE, North Platte, NE. It is not known whether 'Fremont' was ever introduced to Europe or Australasia.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ulmus x intermedia 'Fremont' Ulmus × intermedia cultivar Ulmus articles with images Ulmus