Often cultivated as an ornamental plant, the Elm Tree originates from central Asia. Belonging to the Ulmaceae family, there are 30 – 40 species of Elm, however, most share several common features from their leave and bark characteristics to their distinguishable vase-like shapes. Common names used for Elm Trees include Siberian Elm, American Elm, Weeping Elm, Red Elm, Soft Elm, Chinese Elm, and Grey Elm just to name a few. Some varieties are cultivated as dwarf trees, while others can reach well over a hundred feet high. In fact, in Urban areas, one single Elm tree provides the same cooling effects as five air conditioning units. Historically, Elm wood has been used in the treatment of broken bones, gunshot wounds, diarrhea and cough (medicinal cures), as well as the construction of longbows in the Middle Ages. Today, Elm wood is used ornamentally within various projects and hobbies, as well as for flooring and in the manufacture of coffins, chairs and shipbuilding. With legendary associations to death and the underworld, the Elm is prominent within Greek mythology (story of Orpheus) and Celtic mythology (story of elves who guarded the burial grounds of the dead, associated with the passage into the Underworld). It is also commonly believed that the essence of an Elm Tree energizes the mind and balances the heart. It attracts love and protects/aids in sharpening psychic powers. Learn more about elm at The Wood Database by clicking here.
