Winged Elm

Ulmus alata

Found in rock outcrops, dry and moist forests and woodlands, bottomlands, old fields, disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

Strong

Native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

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Height: 40–60 feet
Spread: 20–40 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

Space about 30 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

Will it fit your yard?

Ulmus alata — stem photograph — Richard Murphy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: February to March
Fruiting season: March to April

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Recorded in 59 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 5

Named place / source context. Shown: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia, a neighboring state.Trees and rocks on Little Kennesaw Mountain., Unidentified in HFC record, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Named place / source context. Shown: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia, a neighboring state.Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain., Unidentified in HFC record, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Alabama. Shared habitat, not food. 155 animals.

Northern Shoveler
Anas clypeata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Northern Waterthrush
Seiurus noveboracensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Purple Gallinule
Porphyrio martinica
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Swallow-tailed Kite
Elanoides forficatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Swamp Sparrow
Melospiza georgiana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wilson's Snipe
Gallinago delicata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Alabama

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

151CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Ulmus

Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
Polygonia interrogationisQuestion Mark
Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger

Show all 151

Acronicta morulaOchre Dagger
Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Acronicta spinigeraNondescript Dagger
Acronicta vinnulaDelightful Dagger, Ashy Dagger
Actias lunaLuna Moth
Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Anatrachyntis badiaFlorida Pink Scavanger Caterpillar
Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
Ancylosis undulatellaSugarbeet Crown Borer
Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
Automeris ioIo Moth
Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
Callima argenticinctellaOrange-Headed Epicallima
Canarsia ulmiarrosorellaElm Leaftier Moth
Catocala clintoniiClinton's Underwing
Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
Ceratomia amyntorElm Sphinx
Charadra deridensThe Laugher
Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
Dasychira meridionalisSouthern Tussock Moth
Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
Episimus argutanaSumac Leaftier
Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
Euchlaena marginariaOchre Euchlaena
Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
Euphyia intermediataSharp-Angled Carpet Moth, The Intermediate
Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
Eupsilia morrisoniMorrison's Sallow
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Euzophera semifuneralisAmerican Plum Borer
Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
Haploa reversaReversed Haploa
Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
Heterogenea shurtleffiRed-Eyed Button Slug
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
Hypena abalienalisWhite-Lined Bomolocha, White-Lined Snout
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
Hyperstrotia pervertensDotted Graylet
Hyperstrotia villificansWhite-Lined Graylet
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Hypoprepia fucosaPainted Lichen Moth
Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
Isa textulaCrowned Slug
Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
Lochmaeus bilineataDouble-Lined Prominent
Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
Lycia ypsilonWoolly Gray
Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
Nerice bidentataDouble-Toothed Prominent
Norape cretataWhite Flannel Moth
Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthonama obstipataThe Gem
Orthosia garmaniGarman's Quaker
Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
Pandemis lamprosanaWoodgrain Leafroller
Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
Panopoda carneicostaBrown Panopoda, Hickory Panopoda
Pantographa limataBasswood Leafroller Moth
Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
Perimede erransellaGray Perimede
Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
Polygonia commaEastern Comma
Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
Selenia kentariaKent's Geometer
Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
Synanthedon geliformisPecan Bark Borer Moth
Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
Theisoa constrictellaConstricted Twirler
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
Utetheisa ornatrixOrnate Moth, Pink Underwing, Rattlebox Moth, Bella Moth
Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
Zale minereaColorful Zale
Xenotemna pallorana

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

4BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Ulmus

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

5BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Ulmus

Aix sponsaWood Duck
Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Columba liviaRock Pigeon
Ortalis vetulaPlain Chachalaca
Passer domesticusHouse Sparrow

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Ulmaceae
Hardiness: Zones 6a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: Yellow or green
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth habit: Single stem
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: March
Fruit ends: April

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “February to March” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow or green” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “March” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; NC Extension Plant Toolbox, USDA PLANTS differ) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “April” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; NC Extension Plant Toolbox, USDA PLANTS differ) · Carolinas and Georgia
Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 6a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “40–60 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “20–40 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

Alabama rank	SNR
Global rank	G5
AL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Winged Elm

At a glance

Natural habitats

Also found with this plant

Who uses this plant?

Plant details

Conservation status

Will it fit your yard?

Sources

More Ulmus