Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tender Perennial
Origin
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Southern Africa
Types
-
Perennial
Number of Varieties
2050
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodland Garden Canopy
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-118-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
10-8
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,830.00 cm61.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
8.50 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Tan, Sandy Brown
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Sandy Brown
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
oblong or obovate
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
-
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Blackspot mold
Nematodes, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Beetles, Birds
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Miscarriage, Rash
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Beautiful Skin, Heals Damaged Hair, Strong, beautiful hair
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Ethnobotanic
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Demulcent, Diuretic, Expectorant, Nutritive
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Inner Bark, Leaves
Root
Other Uses
Chewed as a thirst quencher, Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as a thickener in soups, Used to make a twine
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Shade Trees
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
ULMUS rubra
DIETES bicolor
Common Name
Slippery Elm
African iris, Fortnight lily
In Hindi
Slippery Elm
African Iris
In German
Rotulme
Afrikanische Iris
In French
Slippery Elm
African Iris
In Spanish
olmo resbaladizo
Iris africano
In Greek
Slippery Elm
Αφρικανική Iris
In Portuguese
Slippery Elm
Iris africano
In Polish
Slippery Elm
Afryki Iris
In Latin
Lubricus Elm
African Iris
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Urticales
Asparagales
Family
Ulmaceae
Iridaceae
Genus
Ulmus
Dietes
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Irideae
Subfamily
-
Iridoideae
Number of Species
20300
1
27800
👆🏻