Wych Elm
Ulmus glabra
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulmus_glabra
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rosales
Family
Ulmaceae
Genus
Ulmus
Wych Elm belongs to the family Ulmaceae, order Rosales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Wych Elm faces severe population declines primarily due to Dutch elm disease, a devastating fungal infection spread by elm bark beetles that has decimated elm populations across Europe and North America. Habitat fragmentation, climate change impacts, and limited genetic diversity in remaining populations further threaten the species' long-term survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Wych Elm naturally occurs in mixed deciduous woodlands, ravines, rocky slopes, and stream valleys across northern and central Europe, typically in moist, well-drained soils at elevations up to 1,500 meters. The species also grows in hedgerows, parklands, and as scattered individuals in upland areas with cooler, humid conditions.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Wych Elm faces severe population declines primarily due to Dutch elm disease, a devastating fungal infection spread by elm bark beetles that has decimated elm populations across Europe and North America. Habitat fragmentation, climate change impacts, and limited genetic diversity in remaining populations further threaten the species' long-term survival.
Dutch elm disease (fungal pathogen)
Habitat fragmentation and loss
Climate change impacts
Invasive species competition
Limited genetic diversity
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | VUVulnerable | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | VUVulnerable | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/wych-elm