The Japanese Elm cultivar Ulmus davidiana var. japonica 'Discovery' is a cold-resistant selection from Canada, raised along with 'Freedom' in the 1980s by Dr Wilbert Ronald, of Jeffries Nurseries Ltd. and Rick Durand of Shade Consulting Services, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
| Ulmus davidiana var. japonica 'Discovery' | |
|---|---|
| Variety | Ulmus davidiana var. japonica |
| Cultivar | 'Discovery' |
| Origin | Canada |
Description
editUnlike other Japanese Elms, the growth habit of 'Discovery' is symmetrical, upright, and vase-shaped. The leaves are obovate to oval, and slightly smaller than is typical of the species, their colour dark green turning yellow in autumn.[1] The tree grows to over 15 m in height, with a spread of much the same dimension.
Pests and diseases
editThe tree is resistant to Dutch elm disease and elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola.
Cultivation
edit'Discovery' performed very poorly in government trials [2] in Alberta, Canada, failing completely at five out of six sites. Moreover, the survivors developed a very poor branching pattern requiring pruning to strengthen crotches. 'Discovery' fared better in trials conducted by the University of Minnesota, which considered it "quite hardy", but the tree was criticized for its comparatively slow growth and need for continued crown thinning when young, the latter factor largely disqualifying it as a street tree.[2] Nonetheless, a number of trees have been established in the Minneapolis Parks system. The species does not sucker from roots. [3]
'Discovery' is not known to have been introduced to Europe or Australasia.
Accessions
editNorth America
edit- Brenton Arboretum, Dallas Center, Iowa, US. No details available.
- Smith College, US. Acc. no. 4703.
Nurseries
editNorth America
edit- Bailey Nurseries [3], St. Paul, Minnesota, US.
- Jeffries Nurseries [4], Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada.
- Johnson's Nursery [5], Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, US.
- Lee Nursery Inc. [6], Fertile, Minnesota, US.
- Linder's Garden Center [7], St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul, Minnesota, US.
- Minnesota Valley Nurseries [8], Shakopee, Minnesota, US.
- Patmore Nursery [9], Brandon, Manitoba, US.
- Robinson Nursery [10] Amity, Oregon, US.
- Sun Valley Garden Centre [11], Eden Prairie, Minnesota, US.
References
edit- ^ [1] Photographs of 'Discovery', Todd P. West, 'Elms: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly'; North Dakota State University Department of Plant Sciences; November 2022; p.25-26
- ^ Giblin, C. P. & Gillman, J. H. (2006). Elms for the Twin Cities: A Guide for Selection and Maintenance. University of Minnesota.
- ^ Heybroek, Hans M. (1981). "The Japanese elm species and their value for the Dutch elm breeding program" (PDF). Proceedings of the Dutch Elm Disease symposium and workshop, October 5–9, Winnipeg, Manitoba: 78–90.
External links
edit- http://fletcher.ces.state.nc.us/programs/nursery/metria/metria11/warren/elm.htm Return of the Elm -the status of elms in the nursery industry in 2000. Warren, K., J. Frank Schmidt and Co.