Cedar Elm

Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia)

Common Name(s): Cedar Elm

Scientific Name: Ulmus crassifolia

Distribution: South-central North America

Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 49 lbs/ft³ (780 kg/m³)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .59, .78

Janka Hardness: 1,320 lb_f (5,870 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 13,500 lb_f/in² (93.1 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,480,000 lb_f/in² (10.21 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 6,020 lb_f/in² (41.5 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.7%, Tangential: 10.2%, Volumetric: 15.4%, T/R Ratio: 2.2

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. Sapwood is a pale white or cream color.

Grain/Texture: Has a medium texture and moderate-sized pores. Grain is sometimes straight, but commonly interlocked.

Rot Resistance: Rated as moderately durable to non-durable in regard to heartwood decay, but is susceptible to insect attack, and living trees are very commonly destroyed by Dutch elm disease.

Workability: Can be a challenge to work because of interlocked grain, especially on quartersawn surfaces. Planing can cause tearout and/or fuzzy surfaces. Glues, stains, and finishes well. Responds well to steam bending.

Odor: Elm usually has a strong, unpleasant smell when green; though once dried has very little odor.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Elm in the Ulmus genus has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Should be moderately priced, though availability from mature trees has been greatly diminished by Dutch elm disease.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Common Uses: Boxes, baskets, furniture, hockey sticks, veneer, wood pulp, and papermaking.

Comments: Elm trees are commonly infected with Dutch elm disease, a fungal disease spread by elm bark beetles. D.E.D. has wiped out millions of Elm trees worldwide.

Related Species:

American Elm (Ulmus americana)

Carpathian Elm (Ulmus procera)

Dutch Elm (Ulmus x hollandica)

English Elm (Ulmus procera)

Red Elm (Ulmus rubra)

Rock Elm (Ulmus thomasii)

Winged Elm (Ulmus alata)

Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra)