{"id":12661,"date":"2023-02-09T18:37:50","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T23:37:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=12661"},"modified":"2023-02-20T17:44:12","modified_gmt":"2023-02-20T22:44:12","slug":"trees-that-look-like-elm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/trees-that-look-like-elm\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Trees That Look Like Elm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve probably heard of elm trees<\/a>, but do you know what they look like? Their leaves have a very common, non-distinct shape, so there\u2019s a good chance that even if you\u2019ve seen an elm tree, you may have confused it with another type of tree that had similar leaves. Keep reading to learn about some of the trees that look like elm and how to tell them apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trees That Look Like Elm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Hackberry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"hackberry<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are several dozen species of hackberry trees which can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere in temperate areas. These trees are classed in the same order as elms, but they belong to a different genus and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hackberry leaves look similar to elm leaves: the leaves of both trees are dark green, oval-shaped, pointed, serrated, and deeply-veined. They are roughly the same size as elm leaves as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, hackberry leaves tend to be smoother than elm leaves, which have a more fuzzy, soft texture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hackberry trees have an overall similar form and shape as elm trees and are roughly the same size. Both trees have gray-brown bark and are found growing in some of the same areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One notable difference between the two tree types is their fruit. Elms produce papery winged fruits called samaras, while hackberries produce sugary, purple berries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Ash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Ash<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ash trees are found widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere in both temperate and subtropical regions. These trees are frequently confused with elm trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashes and elms are almost indistinguishable from a distance, as they come in similar sizes and shapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their leaves appear similar at first glance, though elms have simple leaves and most ashes have compound leaves. The leaflets on ash trees are slightly smaller but similar in appearance to elm leaves, as they are dark green, pointed, ovular, and deeply veined.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both elm and ash trees produce winged samaras for fruit. They both have gray-brown bark with deep furrows and braid-like patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The primary difference<\/a> between the two trees is the leaf composition, since ash trees have compound leaves. Their leaves are alternately arranged, whereas elm tree leaves are arranged oppositely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Beech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beech trees are also found throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, much like the other trees on this list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beech and elm are commonly confused due to the similarity of their leaf structure and the brown-gray color of their bark. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leaves are similar in shape to elm leaves, though typically broader. They are simple, often serrated, pointed, and clustered on the stem in a similar pattern as elm leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, the leaves are typically lighter green on beech trees, and they are smooth and shiny compared to the fuzzy dullness of elm leaves.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, beech trees tend to grow straighter, with less of a spread-out canopy, than elm trees. Their bark, though similar in color, is smooth rather than deeply-grooved like elm bark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, beech trees produce small, hard nuts that fall to the ground during autumn. This is in contrast with the lightweight, papery samaras that elms produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out this video for a great side-by-side comparison of elm and beech leaves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TB0DscTKwUU<\/a>