Ulmus minor Argenteovariegata - Elm

Ulmus minor 'Argenteovariegata' is a variegated variety of the Field Elm, a native tree that was once widespread in our countryside. It forms magnificent, large specimens, with very bright foliage. The small-sized leaves are irregularly speckled with white, some remaining green while others are almost entirely cream white. Appreciated for the shade it provides in summer and useful for small garden fauna, this elm also offers beautiful autumn colours. Perfectly adapted to our climates, very hardy, and tolerant of a wide range of neutral to basic soils, including heavy, limestone, and fairly dry soils. This beautiful tree is reserved for large gardens.

Ulmus minor (syn. Ulmus campestris) is native to a vast area covering Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. It is a member of the Ulmaceae family, like hackberry (Celtis) and Siberian elm (Zelkova). Nowadays, the Field Elm can still be found here and there, in the form of coppices, regularly cut back due to disease. A few rare individuals seem to escape the disease, and the species also survives in the form of pretty horticultural varieties with reduced growth.

'Argenteovariegata' is a very old horticultural variety selected in France around 1772. It has practically the same growth as the typical botanical species, with a generally upright habit and a very wide crown. The dimensions at maturity are slightly smaller than those of the wild species. However, this variety can reach a height of 25 to 26m (82 to 85ft) with a spread of 14 to 15m (46 to 49ft). Quite narrow and sometimes a bit ungainly in its young age, it later rounds off to take on a generally well-balanced silhouette. The bark that covers the trunk and branches is initially smooth. It cracks over time and occasionally develops some corky growths. The foliage resembles that of hazelnuts and alders, but the lamina is curiously asymmetrical at the base, at the level of the petiole. The leaves, measuring 5 to 8cm (2 to 3in) in length, are elliptical to rounded in shape with a pointed tip. Their surface is rough to the touch, and they have finely dentate margins. In this variety, the classic bright green of the species is widely punctuated with cream white, with some leaves retaining only a few green spots. Conversely, some branches may remain completely green, and it is advisable to remove them to reveal the variegation. The deciduous foliage takes on beautiful golden yellow colours in autumn before falling. The tree produces inconspicuous flowers in March-April, before the leaves appear. The clusters of small red flowers develop on two-year-old branches. The flowers are followed by bi-coloured winged fruits on female trees and in the presence of male trees, with a light red centre and lime-green outer edge.

Thriving in neutral to limestone soils, this tree appreciates a certain moisture, but can tolerate drier conditions once established. It prefers a sunny exposure and can also be positioned on the edge of large trees.

'Argenteovariegata' is only suitable for large plots and parks due to its substantial growth. It will be enhanced in the presence of purple foliage trees, such as Acer platanoides 'Crimson King', a large Norway Maple with abundant almost black vegetation that contrasts with the light variegation of the elm. Another classic choice is the Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Atropurpurea') with its glossy foliage, which will also have a great effect alongside the variegated elm. And to brighten up the scene with beautiful blooms, plant a Malus 'Royalty', a magnificent flowering crab apple with ruby-red flowers in spring and whose foliage turns purple in season and then red in autumn, creating a scene full of brilliance at the foot of the elm.

For reference, Ulmus minor was a large and beautiful deciduous tree emblematic of all our landscapes, before a devastating Dutch elm disease epidemic decimated large specimens in the 1970s. Today, it survives in a few parks and gardens where it can reach a venerable age. The same goes for 'Argenteovariegata', a remarkable specimen of which is recorded in the city of Houten, Netherlands. Planted in 1916, it measures about 26m (85ft) in height, and its trunk at 1.3m (4ft) above ground level is over 1m (3ft) in diameter.