Ulmus 'Willis'

Infobox Cultivar | name = "Ulmus" hybrid
hybrid = "U. pumila" × "U. rubra"
cultivar = 'Willis'
origin = USA The hybrid cultivar 'Willis' originated as a selection made by a Mr Minnick of Kansas simply as a hybrid. Almost certainly derived from a crossing of the Siberian Elm "Ulmus pumila" and the Red Elm "Ulmus rubra", it was originally considered "Ulmus americana" × "Ulmus pumila".

Description

'Willis' was described as having a smooth grey bark, large leaves similar to "U. americana", and capable of very rapid growth Green, P. S. (1964). Registration of cultivar names in Ulmus. "Arnoldia", Vol. 24. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University. [http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1605.pdf] ] .

Pests and diseases

'Willis' has not been widely tested for resistance to Dutch elm disease Santamour, F. S., & Bentz, S. E. Updated checklist of elm (Ulmus) cultivars for use in North America. "Journal of Arboriculture", 21(3): May, 1995] .

Cultivation

Marketed by the Willis Nursery Co., Ottawa, Kansas, circa 1959, Santamour, F. S., & Bentz, S. E. Updated checklist of elm (Ulmus) cultivars for use in North America. "Journal of Arboriculture", 21(3): May, 1995.] , it is not known whether the cultivar remains in cultivation in the USA, nor whether it was ever introduced to Europe or Australasia.

References