Ulmus 'Sapporo Autumn Gold'

Ulmus hybrid

'Sapporo Autumn Gold' at Antella, Florence, believed to be the largest in Europe.
Hybrid parentage U. pumila × U. davidiana var. japonica
Cultivar 'Sapporo Autumn Gold'
Origin seeds: Sapporo, Japan; cultivated: USA

Ulmus 'Sapporo Autumn Gold' is one of the most successful hybrid elm cultivars ever marketed, widely planted across North America and western Europe, although it has now been largely supplanted by more recent introductions.[1] Arising from a chance crossing in 1958 of the Siberian Elm Ulmus pumila (female parent) and the Japanese Elm Ulmus davidiana var. japonica in the Botanical Garden of Hokkaido University, Sapporo, it was cultivated at the University of Wisconsin–Madison by the late Prof. Eugene Smalley.[2][3] The patent issued in 1975 has expired, and there are now no propagation restrictions.

Description

The tree usually forks at between 1.5 m and 2 m from the ground to produce a broad, rounded, densely foliated crown, although immature plants produce vigorous side shoots requiring assiduous pruning to maintain shape. The bark is pale grey, and longitudinally fissured to form a random lattice pattern. The leaves are narrowly elliptical, < 9 cm long by < 4.5 cm wide, with 8 mm petioles. As the name implies, the leaves turn pale yellow in autumn.[4] The perfect, apetalous wind-pollinated flowers appear in early March, followed by the seeds in April; flowering usually begins when the tree is aged six years.

Pests and diseases

'Sapporo Autumn Gold' possesses a very high resistance to Dutch elm disease; [5][6] in trials in Italy, it sustained only 2.8 % defoliation and 1.2 % dieback when inoculated with unnaturally high concentrations of the fungal pathogen. The cultivar also has a tolerance of Verticillium wilt.[7] The tree's foliage was adjudged 'resistant' to Black Spot by the Plant Diagnostic Clinic of the University of Missouri , however it can be severely damaged by the Elm Leaf Beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola in the USA

Cultivation

In favourable conditions, notably a moist, well-drained soil, the tree can grow at a rate of almost one metre per annum. Trials by the Northern Arizona University found that it is not very tolerant of a hot, arid environment although its leaves sustain comparatively little scorch damage. In trials in southern England conducted by Butterfly Conservation, the tree was found to be intolerant of ponding overwinter. [8]

'Sapporo Autumn Gold' was first introduced to the UK by technology company Pitney Bowes as part of its 'Elms Across Europe' campaign. The company supplied the cultivar to schools, parks and gardens throughout the UK and Europe.[9] The tree remains popular in continental Europe but does not assimilate well in the countryside. In trials in France by Cemagref at Nogent-sur-Vernisson, Loiret, it was found to grow too vigorously in hedgerow conditions, eclipsing neighbouring shrubs and consequently creating gaps. The hybrid was included in trials in Canberra, Australia started in 1988, but has not performed well there.

In the UK, 'Sapporo Autumn Gold' has been found to be an acceptable host for the endangered White-letter Hairstreak butterfly Satyrium w-album, whose larvae feed exclusively on elm [10]

Notable trees

The very first tree planted in the UK in 1979 at Pitney Bowes by Denis Thatcher survives (2012) in perfect health . Other notable plantings were as street trees across Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex in late 1980s, and as riverside trees along the Ouse in York (from Lendal Bridge to Clifton Ings). The largest specimen in Europe known to Dutch elm expert Hans M. Heybroek grows at the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante's Monna Giovanella nursery at Antella, near Florence (see Infobox photo).

Synonymy

Accessions

North America

Europe

Australasia

References

  1. ↑ Santamour, J., Frank, S. & Bentz, S. (1995). Updated checklist of elm (Ulmus) cultivars for use in North America. Journal of Arboriculture, 21: 3 (May 1995), 121-131. International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
  2. ↑ Smalley, E. B. & Lester, D. T. (1973). HortScience 8: 514-515, 1973.
  3. ↑ Smalley, E. B. & Guries, R. P. (1993). Breeding Elms for Resistance to Dutch Elm Disease. Annual Review of Phytopathology Vol. 31 : 325-354. Palo Alto, California.
  4. ↑ Photograph of autumn colouring of 'Sapporo' elm, .
  5. ↑ Pinon, J., Lohou, C. & Cadic, A. (1998). Hybrid Elms (Ulmus Spp.): Adaptability in Paris and behaviour towards Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi). Acta Horticulturae 496, 107-114, 1998.
  6. ↑ Pinon, J. (2007). Les ormes résistants à la graphiose. Forêt-entreprise, No. 175 - Juillet 2007, p 37-41, France.
  7. ↑ Burdekin, D. A. & Rushforth, K. D. (Revised by Webber J. F. 1996). Elms resistant to Dutch elm disease. Arboricultural Research Note 2/96. Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service, Alice Holt, Farnham, UK.
  8. ↑ Brookes, A. H. (2012). Disease-resistant elm cultivars, Butterfly Conservation trials report, 2nd revision, 2012. Butterfly Conservation, Hants & IoW Branch, England.
  9. ↑ Great British Elm Experiment website, with photograph of one of the original Pitney Bowes' 'Sapporo Autumn Gold' elms:
  10. ↑ Davies, M.(1984). White-letter Hairstreak Project. Newsletter No. 12, Winter 1984/85, West Midlands Branch, Butterfly Conservation.