Ulmus crassifolia aka Basket Elm

Ulmus crassifolia is known as cedar elm. It belongs to the elm family, Ulmaceae. Its native range covers the central and southeastern United States. It also extends into northeastern Mexico. Kew places this tree in the temperate biome. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The available species account describes a medium-sized tree. It reaches about 60 feet [18.3 metres] in height. Its crown is rounded, with branches that droop.

The bark is light brown, with furrows between scaly ridges. Slender twigs follow a zigzag course rather than growing straight. They are brownish and often bear corky ridges. The small buds are reddish brown, with an oval shape. Each bud narrows to a pointed tip. These twig and bud details complement the bark's rougher texture. Together, they help describe the tree beyond its leaf shape.

The leaves grow alternately along the twigs, rather than in pairs. Each leaf is simple, with a single, undivided blade. Blades range from narrowly egg-shaped to almost lanceolate. They measure about one to two inches in length. The leaf base is uneven, with unequal sides. Coarse teeth line the edges, and the teeth are somewhat rounded. The leaves feel thick and slightly leathery. Their upper faces are dark green and rough. Soft hairs cover the undersides, giving the two faces different textures.

Small reddish flowers appear in late summer and fall. They grow in clusters of three to five. The species is monoecious: one tree bears male and female flowers. Its flowering season precedes the fall ripening of the fruit. The fruit is a samara, a dry fruit with a wing. Each samara holds one seed within its flattened shape. Its outline resembles a football, with a notch at the tip. Soft white hairs cover its surface. Fruits measure about three-eighths to half an inch long.

The supplied sources give more detail on identification than garden care. They do not specify soil, watering needs, or light levels. Nor do they give a hardiness range or cultivated spread. They provide no species-level account of pests or diseases. Edibility and toxicity also remain unaddressed in this evidence.