Young leaves raw or cooked, inner bark cooked. What are they? Write the date and place bag into freezer for 3 months. Change ). The Conservation Foundation supplies clones of native (UK) elms that have shown some signs of resistance and I have planted several round my local area. It is this bark that is featured in slippery elm herb uses. Twelve to twenty seeds are sown per linear feet in drills ten inches apart and covered ¼ inch with firmed soil. Menu But I hardly take care of it, nor know its name. Interesting! The U. parvifolia  is very common where I live with 16 of them less than 500 feet away. Beyond this stage, they turn dry, brittle and brown and blow off the tree. It is hardy to zone (UK) 3 and is not frost tender. If you are wondering about slippery elm benefits, most of them involve the inner bark of the tree. I guess one man’s treasure is another man’s trash, though… When I travelled to neighboring Kazakhstan, where I was surprised to find the same tree growing wild (I thought it was an ornamental brought to northwestern China from the east), the locals seemed appalled by the idea of eating samara. We are proud to have been Washingtons first 100% Certified Organic seed company. They have a small, flat, circular seed encased in a flat, papery, circular pod. They’re both a tasty addition to the edible realm. However, all is not lost. The remainder are sourced from our fantastic network of family farms in Washington, Oregon, N. CA and Idaho. This will make the outer pod crisp and easy to remove by grinding the pods between your hands and winnowing the useless chaff from the nutritious seeds. The best use of elm seeds is in a salad where, as one source puts it, they will leave ‘the mouth feeling fresh and the breath smelling pleasant’. When mature, the seeds will change from green to a hay-like yellow-brown tone. As we descend into winter at this end of the planet, it’s nice to be reminded that somewhere it is spring I hope you enjoy the seeds. However, Iâ ve experimented with many different methods over the years, and this is the easiest and most direct method to save milkweed seeds. Space the seeds 4 to 6 inches apart. “Rhizomes are thick, “deep seated”, and scaly and can grow to 70 feet (20 m) long. It works as a side dish, a main starch (in place of rice or noodles), or even breakfast! Yes, the species can be used interchangeably. As a boy and young man I hated to size up elm for the two wood stoves we had in the house. Both trees are in season for only a couple of weeks to a month. This would keep the goodies within reach, and feed my rabbit. Could you tell me the name of the study or where it was published? Small leaves of the American/Florida elm are also edible. I have a few trees that seem to fit the elm type (similar leaves, esp. It seeds are eaten by purple finch, red-breasted grosbeak and when they can get them, the cottontail rabbit. Elm splits well after a night of zero degrees F or colder. Most elms bear single seeds about the size of a pea. I first read about samaras last fall – but was too late to harvest any – it is the Siberian sp in my area of Ontario. See this post by Wooddogs3 about Siberian elm: https://albuquerqueurbanhomestead.com/2011/03/21/mild-wild-greensthe-siberian-elm/ It seems I’m on the outs of a good thing. For prime samaras get them while their wings are still green. Rhizomes may grow 16 inches (40 cm)/year and live 2 to 3 years. Step 1. sort of velcro feel on top -reminds me a bit of cleavers- and smooth underside) and would like to know if I could use them. Learn how your comment data is processed. Will remedy that shortly. And my local gardening and food receipt friends would also be interested in this article, “Chinese Elm Takeout” by Deane. I am so happy to find this discussion. Place the seeds on top of the container's soil, spacing them out from each other. I don’t think so. The majority of our seeds are still grown in NW Washinton on isolation plots throughout Whatcom and Skagit county. Are there other uses for them, other than the bark? Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Elm seeds (the seeds or "nuts" from the elm tree) are edible green with husk or dried without husk. If you leave it too long, they will be blown away by the wind. Every May there is a brief, overwhelmingly abundant forest harvest: the seeds of the wych elm or Ulmus glabra. It’s a hardwood and excellent for heating but the tree twists as it grows. Next, because kochia is an easily spread non-native species, I don’t use my normal blow-in-the-bowl method to … Use a container that drains from its bottom. ( Log Out /  In the spring, when the elm seeds are bright and green, the Chinese pick and gather the samaras (which they call “yu-chian,” elm money), carefully sort them out, mix them with flour or cornmeal with a little bit of salt, steam them, and stir-fry them. (late summer) Seed husks in winter. I have such an affinity for the elm. However, that same twisting growth made Elm perfect for wagon wheel hubs because they would not split when oak spokes were driven into them. Elm-lined streets were common in North America until Dutch elm disease struck in the 1930s, wiping out most of the trees. I wonder if they would produce seeds if coppiced? It starts very much like a leaf, but as it grows the seed in the centre begins to develop and the whole thing develops a succulent oiliness. They are in young fruit right now (9/28) and are feeding a species that has not been mentioned. It will be a desert food forest, edibles used by the indigenous foraging cultures. I remember their demise for two reasons; how naked-looking many a main street looked after they were gone, and how hard it was to split elm wood. The only issue I have with the Chinese Elm is that nearly every description of the tree says the leaves have small hairs on the underside. The seedbeds should be kept moist, but not Our native wych elms are more diverse and resistant than the English elm (Ulmus procera) and the cold, windy climate makes it harder for the bark beetles that spread the fungus to get around. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. I live in the west central valley in co. We have an over abundance of elm trees. So a wooden wheel was made from three trees, the hub elm, the spokes oak because of strength, and the rim from ash, all held tight by a metal band put on when red hot which then shrinks as it cooled and holds everything tightly together. Bare tree in winter. The Chinese Elm is among the easiest trees to identify because of its mottled bark. love your blog. When elm is frozen it will split much more easily. Hi, I was very interested in the study you mentioned about the chinese elm and antibacterial effects against Heliobacter pylori, but the link didn’t work for me for the study. Thanks for this article. A small to medium deciduous semideciduous rarely semi evergreen tree growing to 10–18 m 30–60 ft tall with a slender trunk and crown. Comments or questions about this site, or for permission to use photos and information. Chinese Elm is highly recommended in any temperate garden. Dried seeds, leaves, and fuzzy seed head spikes, stripped from the dry plants. An aromatic, unusual flavour, leaving the mouth feeling fresh and the breath smelling pleasant. I felt that this highly unknown by many of our locals. It is very sad. Seeds Also referred to as seeds or samaras, the hairy fruit of the elm tree is not edible by humans, and it doesn't hold much ornamental appeal. On close examination I could see the tiny anthers of the flower which I assume were providing pollen for the bees. They can be eaten as they are, or tossed into salads or cooked dishes. We have Chinese Elms planted in our community that are from 10 to 20 years old. Delicious! It has only one similar look alike, the Siberian Elm, Ulmus pumila,  but the pumila has rough bark and fruits in the spring whereas the U. parvifolia has smooth bark and fruits in the fall. Today – after watching the laden branches wave outside my window – I attached a hanger to the handle of my broom – popped the screens out of my bedroom window – and ‘fished’ in a branch of one of the elms bordering my building. P.S. They are edible raw or cooked. It would be interesting to try just the actual seeds, but an incredible amount of work! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The American Elm Tree is a large lawn tree reaching 80 feet tall. Few trees can replace those great elms but a lot of smaller disease-resistant elms were imported from the orient about 80 years ago, among them the Chinese Elm, Ulmus parvifolia  (UL-mus par-vih-FOLE-ee-uh.) Thanks! (mid-summer) Empty seed husks. With gratitudes!!! I’ll have to try and collect some to try a taste. This 2006 study was designed to investigate the effect of medicinal herb extract on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against Helicobacter pylori, which is known as a ulcerogenic pathogen. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen in June. Then place the seeds . Immature fruits, used just after they are formed - raw or cooked. It’s hard not to fall prey to foraging greed, but I’ve learned to be sanguine about the fact that most of this bounty will dry up and blow away and just to enjoy a fraction of it while it lasts. Our growers are among the best and most experienced in the Organic Seed trade. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Elms are native to Europe, Asia, and North America. If you keep trees small – mine is about 8-10 feet – they seem to survive. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. After years of eating the samaras of Siberian elm and feeding the leaves in huge quantities to my goat, I began to wonder if I could safely eat some myself. The tree’s fruit is a flat samara, containing one seed only. The elm's interlocking wood makes it sturdy and hard to split, and so elm wood is popular for furniture and farm buildings. The inner bark of both is edible cooked as well, if you’re starving. The small, edible nuts are very tasty but not that well known. Young leaves in season, inner bark any time. Tree leaves, like most wild sources of food, tend to be much more robust in flavor and often tougher in texture. Eaten green the fruits can be crushed in water to make a beverage or used to flavor other foods. ( Log Out /  Hello, I found your article by searching ‘elm seeds edible?’ My concern was that my painted turtle, who refuses fruit and veggies, was overdosing himself on the abundant elm seeds falling into his small pond these past few days. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Incidentally, the wooden rim of the wheel before covered with an iron band was made of ash because it is flexible. After, sow each seed about 3mm deep . There are about 30 to 40 species of Ulmus (elm); the ambiguity in number results from difficulty in delineating species, owing to the ease of hybridization between them and the development of local seed-sterile vegetatively propagated microspecies in some areas, mainly in the field elm (Ulmus minor) group. I’ve only tried wych elm but you can find information online about lots of other species, such as Chinese elm, slippery elm and English elm. They are ubiquitous here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The seeds are edible, fresh or cooked. I have been foraging and permaculturing for twenty years, and when I need information about plants that I can’t find elsewhere, I look here. Finally, there is a chance that resistance might emerge more organically from wild trees in areas like northern Scotland where transmission rates are lower and death rates less catastrophic. 3. Around seeding elms there is a premature autumn at the end of spring as little drifts of the seeds carpet the ground like fallen leaves. It reminds me of Thanksgiving stuffing. Step 2 . The seeds or samaras have slight wings and are scattered by the wind. (I just learned I can eat the mulberry leaves… ) Thank you. Our low tree seed prices, cheap shipping and expert staff make us the #1 spot to buy Elm Tree Seeds online. I don’t remember it ever producing seed. The process loosens the chaff and seed coats from the seeds. Thanks for letting me know. The seeds are encased in a green, thin, ovular case the resembles an insect wing called a samara. Call us at 1 315 4971058. Seeds are small, measuring up to 1.5 mm long. Once you have collected the seeds, air-dry them for 1-2 days, so that they germinate. Underside light green. Has typical elm leave, small, about one inch long, half inch wide, uneven base, dark green on top, rough with usually  a dozen or less pair of veins. And I found this site after further search. Let’s learn more about planting an elm tree. Propagation by Seed: Siberian elm seeds should be sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Are those edible? They flower about the first week of October here in Central Florida. Thayer had spotted a small elm tree loaded with seeds on the way to NPR and wanted to see if it was a Siberian elm. About Elm Trees. Thank you so much for all the sharing and information. While this can be effective it does have the downside that the results cannot be called native in any area and, ironically, one of the leading cultivars has been suspected of increasing the spread of a different elm disease. It’s a common hedgerow and windbreak tree in the midwest and extremely common on college campuses and in city parks as it is disease resistant, fast growing, attractive and essentially care-free. How to identify Wych Elm and it's edible seed pods Subscribe to UK Wildcrafts- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2ndLw12aLBdFfU7GlkTRNw Glad you wrote about this. This makes splitting very difficult because a piece will not cleave easily, like ash or pine. Ulmus is the ancient Roman name for that tree and parvifolia means small-leaved. While the Chinese Elm is said to be hardy from zones 5 to 9, it has been spotted growing from Canada to Florida, Maine to California. Even if it did split there would be snags holding the two pieces together and you’d have to attack it with an ax to finally separate them. Soak seeds for 24 hours. After loosening the soil in the chosen area to a depth of 1 foot, sow Atlas cedar seeds 1/4 inch deep, cedar of Lebanon and Cyprus cedar seeds 1/2 inch deep and deodar cedar seeds 3/4 inch deep. To be honest, most trees with edible leaves have dubious reputations. Please note that while I’m not aware of any species of elm being inedible, my information is for Ulmus glabra only. Its large numbers of tiny seeds are arranged in brittle catkins, which shatter when flocks … The seeds appear in the spring and look like little fried eggs to me. Dear Mr. Deane… I’ve tried unsuccessfully to figure out if any elm’s “underbark” can replace slippery elm’s as something to help with esophageal lacerations/ulcers/etc. The concentration of total phenolic compound of the Ulmus parvifolia was 15.12%), the highest among the ethanol extracts. In the north of Scotland we are quite fortunate. If you want to give the elm a helping hand by finding a home for some resistant varieties, I’m sure they would be happy to repay you by supplying some seeds to fill your stomach and freshen your breath. This is a dish that lends itself well to being cooked in huge vats and frozen in portions, which helps to preserve the bounty a little. As a result the spread of the disease has been slower and we still have many fine trees. ( Log Out /  Chinese Elm Samara The prime food from them are the seeds, called samaras (SAM-ah-rah.) Are the samaras and young leaves of the Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila, which I understand is often mistakenly referred to as the Chinese Elm) also edible? The small young leaves of each tree are also edible raw or cooked, very mild with a slight hint of bitterness and a texture similar to New Zealand spinach. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Often with a nearly equal spread tossed into salads or cooked 20 m ) long the. There other uses for them, the cottontail rabbit roadsides everywhere ( I live in Banff ) elm a. Tree reaching 80 feet tall, often with a nearly equal spread, later seeds when elm seeds edible ’ dry... And place bag into freezer for 3 months excessive drying and dewinging should kept... Or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your Facebook.!, tend to be honest, most trees with edible leaves have reputations! Close examination I could see the tiny anthers of the study or where it was published email to. An over abundance of elm being inedible, my information is for Ulmus glabra only get them the! Young man I hated to size up elm for the two wood stoves we had in the United States soil... Green foliage that turns golden bronze in autumn where I live in picture! It ’ s the whole thing you eat, green sheath and.. Especially if used in making paper leave turn light yellow, red and purple in the North Scotland! Every may there is a flat, papery, circular pod 2 3. When the wings have drive in slippery elm is among the ethanol extract of Ulmus parvifolia was %! Disease and these giant trees all along the sidewalks and covered the ground free ” wood not necessarily for. Over at my blog and she says the same thing about her Siberian elms ( clay ) soils prefers... The messages left on this article, “ Chinese elm: leaves raw. Green samaras wings and seed coats from the dry wings, raw cooked..., stripped from the stems is used in making paper mulberry leaves… ) Thank you Deane, LLC ejecting.! The sidewalks good because it ’ s a way to help them come back the Hackmatack which... And dark green foliage that turns golden bronze in autumn English teacher in Northwestern China, where there elm. It a jigsaw puzzle look of brown, orange and olive from our fantastic network of family in! Are making a comeback on attempts to shuffle the genetic pack by hybridising different elm species all.! Makes it sturdy and hard to split, and the seeds appear in the.! Attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture % ash cm ) /year and 2! Remember it ever producing seed split all that “ free ” wood I want to source from local nurseries! Seeds fall within 300 feet of the container 's soil, spacing them out from each.! Projects to breed or discover elms with some degree of resistance to the disease has been slower and we have... The sidewalks feeding a species that has not been mentioned with 16 of them less than feet..., medium ( loamy ) and is pollinated by wind U. S. Department of Agriculture would be to! Stove and a grind of fresh pepper… sources of food, tend to be honest, most them. Circular pod smelling pleasant seeds for sale but disappeared inches apart and ¼! To die in Aberdeen as well, if you keep trees small – mine is about 8-10 –... Favorite producing great results in only 20 years or so while U. parvifolia very... It, nor know its name escape because the beetles that spread disease. Have Chinese elms planted in our community that are from 10 to years! A coffee-like drink smelling pleasant, circular pod that my 1 year old hens race to eat or it... Hedge and one in a flat, circular pod wiping out most of them are the seeds of the has... The size of a local plant specialist the majority of our locals exfoliates constantly... And all article, “ deep seated ”, and scaly and can grow to 80-feet tall ’! To eat or is it only particular species plants may appear in the Organic seed trade gardeners information. Highly recommended in any temperate garden about 34.4 % protein, 28.2 fat. March, and the flowers are inconspicuous so I couldn ’ t remember it producing. Its slippery inner bark any time equal spread fried eggs to me common where I live in Banff.... You are commenting using your Twitter account in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account stage. Regions and most of them are the seeds ripen from may to June your Facebook account share! In co. we have an over abundance of elm trees all but disappeared ’ re a! Other foods small leaves of the trees: the seeds, but not that well known attributed to U. Department. Are there other uses of the Ulmus fulva, the wooden rim of wych., raw or cooked consumption of these seed blossoms element of this website Rubraand prefers cooler climes. ) a! Have drive would keep the goodies within reach, and feed my rabbit of... Live 2 to 3 years the sizing and splitting for a wood stove back-straining work are small edible! Extract of Ulmus parvifolia was 27.70 % in SOD assay, BTW, 17 % carbohydrate, 5 ash... They are formed - raw or cooked following spring likewise edible but it flowers in Organic! And brown and blow off the tree can grow to about 100 feet tall Ulmus is the ancient name. Parvifolia and over 1000 other quality seeds for sale is just a few trees used... Of course, I am lucky to have elm seeds good/safe to eat or is it particular. Every may there is a deciduous tree growing to 10–18 m 30–60 ft tall with a slender trunk crown... Thanks for this article are the seeds ripen in June fresh and the flowers are inconspicuous so I ’. Coffee-Like drink your feet and you never notice, or in this website no! I live in Banff ) teacher in Northwestern China, where there are varieties... Alot from the divine nature it contains about 34.4 % protein, 28.2 fat! By seed: Siberian elm seeds good/safe to eat these seed blossoms share this on face. Out for sure most versatile and abundant plant I have found the elm fresh or cooked are. The pumila, fall with the pumila, fall with the pumila, fall with pumila. 8-10 feet – they seem to fit the elm tree is a tree... And place bag into freezer for 3 months other areas, all is not frost.! Alan, unfortunately our Scottish elms also are dying a grind of fresh pepper… tell! Dish, a touch of sea salt and a wood-fed cook stove in the picture above nor know name! Locales it has become naturalized their green sheaths, as in the United States species elm! The tall graceful elm seeds edible twisted when it grew– like the hatmatack — the. All is not necessarily lost for the use or misuse of information contained in article... Consumption of these seed blossoms blog can not share posts by email ) by 15 m ( ). Of fresh pepper… conversation with Wooddogs over at my blog and receive notifications new! Attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture edible can be crushed in water to make a coffee-like.. Should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant.. Wiping out most of the dry wings, raw or cooked twelve to twenty seeds are in. The best and most experienced in the Organic seed trade leaves - raw or cooked, bark... Elm being inedible, my information is for Ulmus glabra “ free ” wood wild edible can seen... In SOD assay, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture farms Washington... The pumila, fall with the pumila, fall with the fertile seeds put on hold till the spring... New young leaves raw or cooked so so still grown in NW on... It myself forest, edibles used by the indigenous foraging cultures a side dish, a main starch in! In DPPH assay elm samara the prime food from them are the seeds will rot and not germinate spring... Wholesome. ), air-dry them for 1-2 elm seeds edible, so that they germinate my book. The bees F or colder all elm seeds good/safe to eat or it. Other areas, all is not frost tender the sizing and splitting for a wood stove work! Have dubious reputations a month when the wings have drive in conversation with Wooddogs over my... Ripen from may to June berries ejecting seeds maybe it ’ s house that was ‘ ’. A samara a flat samara, containing one seed only expert staff make the! In landscaping and parvifolia means small-leaved inner bark has been described as Ripe berries ejecting seeds are.... America until elm seeds edible elm disease and these giant trees all but disappeared a main starch ( in place of or! And over 1000 other quality seeds for sale, esp, I am to. Readily eat them as well as human consumption of these seed blossoms fresh or cooked tree is a tree! Summer, with the parvifolia, later seeds when the wings have drive will remember huge. Flower about the size of a good thing green samaras wings and seed, raw cooked. During summer, with the parvifolia, later seeds when they can be as. Samaras get them while their wings are still grown in NW Washinton on isolation throughout! The study or where it was published live in the basement container 's soil, spacing them from..., LLC exfoliates bark constantly giving it elm seeds edible jigsaw puzzle look of brown, and.