'Wredei' Golden Elm Trees

• Variety: 'Wredei' Golden Elm, a narrow column of yellow leaves
• Common name: Golden elm, golden Dutch elm
• Latin name: Ulmus × hollandica 'Dampieri Aurea', sold in the trade as 'Wredei'
• Type: Deciduous tree
• Mature height: About 8m (26ft)
• Spread: About 4m (13ft)
• Habit: Narrowly conical
• Foliage: Broad leaves washed golden yellow, crowded along the branches
• Flowers: Tiny red clusters in early spring, then green winged seeds
• Soil: Any well-drained soil, chalk included
• Position: Full sun or partial shade
• Hardiness: H7, hardy anywhere in the UK
• RHS AGM: Yes, awarded 2012
• Good for: Small gardens, coastal gardens, a vertical accent
• Container suitable: For a few years in a large pot, then plant it out
• Similar varieties: Sapporo Autumn Gold (green, larger), Wingham (green, much larger)
• Sold as: Pot-grown tree in a 12 litre pot
• Plant: Any month. Autumn to early spring planting needs the least watering
• Delivered: Year-round, whenever it is in stock. Collection from Castle Cary also available

'Wredei' is the small elm: a narrow cone of golden-yellow leaves that reaches about 8m (26ft) tall and 4m across, holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit and fits where no other elm would.

Wredei Golden Elm: A Column of Yellow That Stays Narrow

'Wredei' is a golden-leaved Dutch elm, Ulmus × hollandica 'Dampieri Aurea', that grows as a narrow cone to about 8m tall and 4m wide. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit, given in 2012, and it is the smallest elm you will find here. The leaves are broad, washed golden yellow and packed so closely along the branches that from across the garden the tree reads as one solid column of colour. Tiny red flowers cluster on the bare twigs in early spring, followed by green winged seeds.

Yellow-leaved trees divide opinion, and a garden full of them would be a mistake. One, placed where a dark hedge or a brick wall stands behind it, is another matter: it does the work of a shaft of sunlight on a dull day. 'Wredei' suits the part because it keeps its narrow shape without pruning. It grows in full sun or partial shade, in any well-drained soil, chalk included, and the RHS lists it for coastal gardens. It is rated H7, so cold is not a consideration anywhere in Britain.

Your tree arrives pot-grown in a 12 litre pot, so any month will do for planting. Stake it on the day; our guide on how to plant a tree with a stake shows the method.

Golden Elm and Dutch Elm Disease

Every elm is bought with one question in mind. The RHS says of this one that it is "said to be more resistant than many other elm species", and that is as far as the evidence goes, so it is as far as this page goes. If resistance is your first concern, Wingham is the elm the RHS credits with significant resistance, on a far bigger tree. 'Wredei' is the one to choose for its colour and its size.

Planting Companions

Gold wants a dark neighbour. A clipped yew hedge behind it is the best backdrop there is, and Sapporo Autumn Gold, the glossy green elm, makes a pair of opposites where there is room for a second, larger tree. For others on the same modest scale, look through our trees for small gardens, or the trees for ornamental interest grown for leaf, bark and shape.

Why buy from Ashridge?

Ashridge Nurseries holds the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, earned on customer reviews. Your elm is pot-grown in peat-free compost, one of three in our range of elm trees. Delivered leafless between November and March, it is guaranteed for 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the golden elm resistant to Dutch elm disease?

The RHS describes the golden elm as said to be more resistant than many other elms, and no elm is immune. Our article on Dutch elm disease explains how the fungus and its beetle work.

How big does a golden elm grow?

A golden elm grows to about 8m tall and 4m wide, as a narrow cone. It is the smallest of the three elms sold here, and it holds that shape without pruning.

Which elm is best for a small garden?

'Wredei' is the elm for a small garden, at about 8m by 4m. Sapporo Autumn Gold passes 12m in time and Wingham reaches about 30m, so both belong in bigger spaces.

Can I grow a golden elm in a pot?

A golden elm grows well in a large pot for a few years, but it belongs in the ground in the long run. Keep it watered through summer and plant it out before it slows down.

Will a golden elm grow on chalk?

The golden elm grows in any well-drained soil, chalk included, in full sun or partial shade. Waterlogged ground is the one thing to avoid.

What is the difference between 'Wredei' and 'Dampieri Aurea'?

They are the same tree. 'Dampieri Aurea' is the name the RHS accepts and 'Wredei' is the name the nursery trade uses, so you will see both on labels.