Green Ash vs Siberian Elm - TreeTime.ca

Green Ash vs Siberian Elm

Ulmus pumila

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

PRODUCTION CANCELLED

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Siberian Elm
Green Ash

Siberian Elm is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree. It has a similar form to American Elm, but smaller, with a more pyramidal habit and shorter lifespan. It is also more resistant to Dutch Elm disease and is very salt tolerant.

Siberian Elm was grown as shelterbelts in the prairies after the Dustbowl disasters, where its rapid growth and tolerance for drought and cold initially made it a great success. It is an excellent shade tree.

Note: Due to it's increasingly controversial reputation for being invasive in warmer climates, we are no longer planning to grow this species for retail purchase on a regular basis.

Green ash is a fast growing tree with incredible golden yellow leaves in fall. This tree is native to the prairies and is well suited for drought and cold. Green ash can also tolerate soil compaction, periods of flooding and a wide variety of soils including alkaline. This makes green ash ideally suited for use in urban environments.

Siberian Elm Quick Facts

Green Ash Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2b
Height: 20 m (66 ft)
Height: 18 m (60 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 12 m (40 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: low


Foliage: glossy
Fall colour: bright yellow
Fall colour: bright yellow in early fall
Seeds: samaras
Seeds: seeds located within samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 2.4 - 3 m (8 - 10 ft)

In row spacing: 1.8 - 2.4 m (6 - 8 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, PE
Other Names: asiatic elm, chinese elm, dwarf elm
Other Names: downy ash, red ash, swamp ash, water ash