How much sun does Slippery elm need?

Slippery elm grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Slippery elm bloom?

Slippery elm blooms in March and April.

Where is Slippery elm native?

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 33 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Slippery elm host?

Slippery elm is a larval host plant for mourning cloak and eastern comma.

Slippery elm

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Ulmus rubra

Last reviewed: October 2026

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) is a perennial tree native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 33 more states. It blooms in March and April.

Toxicity unknown

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

480"–720" H × 360"–480" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DC and 33 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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A large deciduous tree with rough, sandpapery leaves and reddish-brown, mucilaginous inner bark. It grows in floodplains and upland woods, developing a broad, spreading crown with age.

Growing Slippery elm

Grow Slippery elm in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 480 to 720 inches tall and spread 360 to 480 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Host plant for mourning cloak, eastern comma.

Its foliage is a larval host for mourning cloak and eastern comma butterflies, and the early seeds provide food for birds and small mammals before most other trees have leafed out.

Common questions

How much sun does Slippery elm need?: Slippery elm grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Slippery elm bloom?: Slippery elm blooms in March and April.
Where is Slippery elm native?: Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 33 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Slippery elm host?: Slippery elm is a larval host plant for mourning cloak and eastern comma.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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