Elm
Ulmus glabra
A broad-crowned deciduous tree with large, harshly rough leaves that are markedly lopsided at the base. Dense tufts of papery green samaras cover the bare twigs in early spring; picked while still soft they have a mild, nutty flavour, and the youngest leaves can be cooked as a green. Unlike English elm it regenerates from seed rather than by suckering.
Native throughout Britain and Ireland and commonest in the north and west, on damp base-rich soils — ash-elm woodland, ravines and river banks, limestone scree and old hedgerows. Dutch elm disease has thinned the mature trees, so much of what remains is younger regrowth.
No part is known to be toxic, and young samaras and unfurling leaves are eaten raw or cooked. Older samaras turn papery and bitter rather than harmful. Elm pollen is a spring allergen, and trees weakened by Dutch elm disease shed limbs, so look up before picking.
Always use more than one reference to confirm a plant. You are responsible for what you choose to forage.
Crown and habit
A single-trunked tree to around 30 m with a broad, domed crown and grey bark that is smooth when young and shallowly ridged with age. It does not throw up the suckering thickets typical of English elm, so isolated standards in hedgerows and steep woodland are usually this species.
Samaras
Flat papery discs about 2 cm across, pale green ripening to buff, borne in dense clusters on bare twigs before the leaves. The seed sits in the centre of the wing, whereas in field elm (Ulmus minor) it sits close to the notch at the tip.
Leaf base and texture
Leaves 8–16 cm, sandpapery on the upper surface, with the base strongly asymmetric so that one side overlaps the very short stalk. Hazel leaves are softer to the touch and evenly rounded at the base on an obvious stalk.
Leaf tip
The tip is abruptly drawn to a fine point, and on vigorous shoots often carries two or three extra points either side of the main one. Check this on sucker growth and lower branches, where it shows most clearly.
Updated 2026-08-08T11:01:39.180Z · Part of the shared Foragers Log catalogue · Fruit