Commendation™ Elm - Ulmus 'Morton Stalwart' [2]
Introduced by Chicagoland Grows™, Commendation elm is a tough, fast-growing tree with large leaves. [1]
This specimen is part of one of the world's largest collection of Elms, at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.
Insects & Spiders Home | Ulmaceae | Ulmaceae Index | Tree Encyclopedia | Trees Index | Rose Family
Once a very popular and long-lived (300+ years) shade and street tree, American Elm suffered a dramatic decline in the 1950's with the infestation of Dutch elm disease, a fungus spread by a bark beetle. Accolade, Commendation, Triumph, and numerous other elm varieties are the result of efforts to provide elms with more disease and insect resistance.

Cultivar 'Morton Stalwart', trade name Commendation™, is a complex hybrid of the Morton Accolade™ (fig 2.) elm and
Ulmus pumilla x U. carpinifolia (fig.1) from eastern Russia. Listed as a fast-growing, tough, robust tree, this elm grows to 60 feet and spreads to 50. Extremely drought-resistant, cold tolerant, and resistant to Dutch Elm disease, it is nevertheless moderately susceptible to gypsy moth, Japanese beetle, and elm leaf beetle damage. [1]

Ulmus pumilla x U. carpinifolia
1. Ulmus pumilla x U. carpinifolia		Morton Accolade elm
2. Morton Accolade elm
Commendation Elm 'Morton Stalwart' is a hybrid of these two trees, themselves both hybrids
Chicagoland Grows™ is a corporate partnership among the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum and the Ornamental Grower’s Association of Northern Illinois (OGA). Established in 1986, CG works collectively with industry professionals in the OGA and throughout North America to develop, select, evaluate, produce and market new and recommended plant cultivars. These selected plants offer fine ornamental attributes and proven dependability to both landscape professionals and home gardeners.

Commendation Elm, Morton Arboretum acc. 274-97-1 is 14 years old

Commendation elm bark

References
  1. The Morton Arboretum, "Commendation™ Elm"
  2. Commendation elm, Morton Arboretum acc. 274-97-1, photos by Bruce Marlin
Family Ulmaceae - Zelkovas, Hackberries and Elms
There are about 200 species of trees and shrubs in Ulmaceae. 14 trees and 2 shrubs are native to North America. The Elms fell victim to Dutch Elm disease during the 1950's; until that time, they were the premiere shade tree along the streets of our towns and cities.

The Morton Arboretum is one of the largest living Ulmus collections in the world (more than 30 species, in addition to numerous infraspecific taxa, hybrids, and cultivars).

Custom Search

© Red Planet Inc.