Ulmus 'Groeneveld'

Ulmus 'Groeneveld'
Ulmus hybrid
UgroenveldSCG1.jpg
'Groeneveld', Brighton, UK
Details
Hybrid parentage U. × hollandica × U. minor
Cultivar 'Groeneveld'
Origin Netherlands

Ulmus 'Groeneveld' was cloned in 1949 and released in 1963 in response to the earlier, less virulent form of Dutch elm disease that afflicted Europe shortly after the First World War [1][2]. The cultivar was derived from a crossing of Dutch clones '49', (originally believed to be an English Wych Elm Ulmus glabra but later identified as another example of Ulmus × hollandica) and '1', an Ulmus minor subsp. minor found in central France and marketed by the Barbier nursery in Orléans.

Contents

Description

Ulmus 'Groeneveld' leaves.jpg

The tree is slow growing, and produces a dense, upswept growth which initially made it popular as a street tree in the Netherlands [3]. The obovate leaves are < 9 cm long by 4 cm broad, arranged in clusters on short branchlets.[4]

Pests and diseases

'Groeneveld' has good resistance to Coral-spot fungus Nectria cinnabarina, and Black Spot [3]. However, like all the other Dutch hybrids released before 1989, it proved to have only marginal resistance, rated 3 out of 5 [5] to the later, virulent form of Dutch elm disease and consequently planting is no longer recommended where the disease is prevalent [6][7].

Cultivation

'Groeneveld' was also introduced elsewhere in Europe, including Britain, in small numbers. The tree was planted in trials [4] in Canberra, Australia started in 1988, but has not shown promise in that environment so far; it has however proved popular in New Zealand.

Hybrid cultivars

  • FL 522: derived from a crossing with the Chinese species Ulmus chenmoui by the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante in Florence. There are no plans (2009) to release it to commerce.

Accessions

North America

Europe

  • Brighton & Hove City Council, UK, NCCPG Elm Collection [5], UK champion: Stanmer Park, 18 m high, 53 cm d.b.h. in 2002 [8].
  • Grange Farm Arboretum [6], Sutton St. James, Spalding, Lincs., UK. Acc. no. 830.
  • Royal Botanic Garden Wakehurst Place. Acc. no. 1975-6125
  • Sir Harold Hillier Gardens. Acc. no. 1977.6442

Nurseries

Europe

Australasia

  • Productive Trees Ltd. [10], Paeroa, Waikato, New Zealand.

References

  1. ^ Burdekin, D. A. & Rushforth, K. D. (Revised by Webber J. F. 1996). Elms resistant to Dutch elm disease. Arboricultural Research Note 2/96. Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service, Alice Holt, Farnham, UK.
  2. ^ Santamour, F. S., & Bentz, S. E. (1995). Updated checklist of elm (Ulmus) cultivars for use in North America. Journal of Arboriculture, 21(3): May, 1995.
  3. ^ White, J. & More, D. (2002). Trees of Britain & Northern Europe. Cassell's, London.
  4. ^ Photographs of 'Groeneveld' elm [1] and samarae [2]
  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. ISBN 9709050112819
  6. ^ Heybroek, H. M. (1964). Plant Disease Rep. 48: 187-189, 1964, transl. by F. W. Holmes.
  7. ^ Heybroek, H. M. (1993). The Dutch Elm Breeding Program. In Sticklen & Sherald (Eds.) (1993). Dutch Elm Disease Research, Chapter 3. Springer Verlag, New York, USA
  8. ^ Johnson, Owen (ed.) (2003). Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland. Whittet Press, ISBN 978-1-873580-61-5