Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens'

Ulmus glabra
'Lutescens' (felled c. 2005), Vinkeleskade, Amsterdam.
Cultivar	'Lutescens'
Origin	England

The Wych Elm cultivar Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens', commonly known as the Golden Wych Elm, arose as a sport of wych elm in York. The original tree was known as the Gallows Elm because of its proximity to the gallows in that city.

A medium-sized, fast-growing deciduous tree that reaches a height of approximately 15 m with a spread of about 20 m. In its first years, the tree is vase-shaped, but spreads as it matures to form a rounded canopy. The hue of the leaves varies according to light intensity. Ergo: where exposed to full sunlight the leaves are bright yellow, but in shade no more than a lime green. 'Lutescens' is arguably the best of the golden elm cultivars as it keeps its colour as it ages.

The cultivar is not known to be any less susceptible to Dutch elm disease than the species. It is highly susceptible to the elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola [4].

'Lutescens' was once commonly planted in the UK, and it has been widely planted in south-eastern Australia and New Zealand, where it remains in cultivation as Golden Elm, often being grafted on to Ulmus parvifolia rootstock. In Australasia 'Lutescens' has sometimes been mistakenly sold by nurseries under the name 'Louis van Houtte'. The tree was also known to have been marketed in Poland in the 19th century by the Ulrich nursery,Warsaw. 'Lutescens' is not known in North America.

There are two notable TROBI Champion trees in England, at Pickering Park, Anlaby, measuring 16 m high by 79 cm d.b.h. in 2004, and in Dyke Road Place, Brighton, 16 m high by 76 cm d.b.h. in 2006. In Australia notable specimens grow in Williamstown Botanic Gardens, Williamstown, Victoria, in Howard Vineyard, Nairne, South Australia, and at 'Poacher's Pantry', Hall, Canberra, and there is a mature tree in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart. Four trees stand in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand.