September Elm

Ulmus serotina

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in moderately dry to moist upland forests, bottomland and riparian forests, stream banks, bluffs, lake and pond margins, flatwoods; especially over limestone. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

Strong

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

Profile 94%

Height: About 70 feet
Light: Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

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At a glance

Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: September to October
Fruiting season: Fall

JFMAMJJASOND

Not yet recorded · Spread · Life cycle

Recorded in 25 Arkansas counties.

Natural habitats

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

1 of 4

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

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

Streams, rivers and their banks

Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.

Ponds, lakes and their shores

Still water and its edges: ponds, lakes, millponds and reservoirs.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Arkansas. Shared habitat, not food. 80 animals.

Acadian Flycatcher
Empidonax virescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-and-White Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-throated Green Warbler
Dendroica virens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue Grosbeak
Passerina caerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cerulean Warbler
Dendroica cerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chuck-will's-widow
Caprimulgus carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Arkansas

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

155CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · 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 impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger

Show all 155

Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger
Acronicta morulaOchre Dagger
Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Acronicta spinigeraNondescript Dagger
Acronicta vinnulaDelightful Dagger, Ashy Dagger
Actias lunaLuna Moth
Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Anarta trifoliiThe Nutmeg, Clover Cutworm
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
Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
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
Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
Dasychira dorsipennataSharp-Lined 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
Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Euzophera semifuneralisAmerican Plum Borer
Grapholita prunivoraLesser Apple Worm
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
Hydrelia albiferaFragile White Carpet
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 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
Olethreutes lacunanomLacuna Moth
Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthonama obstipataThe Gem
Orthosia garmaniGarman's Quaker
Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
Orthosia revictaSubdued 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
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
Flower color: Green
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Single stem
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Fall
Fruit ends: Fall

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

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “September to October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Height · “About 70 feet” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Leaf retention · “Deciduous” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Light · “Partial shade; Full shade; Full sun (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
primary_flower_color · “green” · USDA PLANTS
Soil · “Dry; Moist (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia

Conservation status

Arkansas rank	SNR
Global rank	G4
AR status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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September 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