CHARLES REYNOLDS: Drake elms grow well in Central Florida

These elms grow well in Central Florida

Whenever I mention cultivating elms in Florida, someone brings up Dutch elm disease. Luckily, that fatal fungal malady — thought to have originated in Asia before spreading to Europe and North America — has never been detected in peninsular Florida. In fact, the Sunshine State is awash with both native and exotic elms.

By far the most common elm in our landscapes is a beautiful weeping variety of Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia). Although the species can grow 80 feet tall, the weeping form — often called Drake elm — is generally under 50 feet tall, with an equally wide canopy. Drake elms grow rapidly in full sun on almost any well-drained site. Even occasionally inundated locations are acceptable.

Unlike most elms, Drake is considered semi-evergreen, often retaining considerable foliage during winter. But this graceful tree’s most outstanding feature is exfoliating bark that peels off to reveal an ever-changing collage of green, orange and brown hues. And though elms are frequently criticized for being weakly rooted and easily toppled by hurricane winds, the truth is more positive. Drake — like most elms — has a shallow but wide-spreading root system that, in Central Florida at least, enabled the vast majority of specimens to withstand the three hurricanes that hit in 2004. And don’t worry about those shallow roots buckling pavement: They rarely cause problems.

Several native species of elm grow in the Sunshine State, including American, slippery and cedar elms. But winged elm — so named due to corky growth on its branches — is the most commonly cultivated. This deciduous tree is favored because of its fast upright growth, good wind resistance and attractive bark.

Winged elm ranges from 40 to 70 feet tall in sun or light shade, preferring moist sites with rich soil. Trees, however, adapt to dry, sandy locations if they’re irrigated regularly for two or three years following installation. Despite its attractive rounded canopy, winged elm develops branches that spread widely, making it an excellent shade tree.

In general, elms are adaptable, low-maintenance trees: Because their small leaflets disappear into turf and mulch, raking is never necessary. But they should — if necessary — be pruned to a single trunk when young to prevent splitting, and juvenile specimens benefit from fertilization in early spring. A problem that may arise due to elm tree’s shallow and competitive root systems is underplanting them. You may find that some plants fail when they’re installed too close to elms.