Slippery Elm is named for its mucilaginous inner bark, which was ground into a nutritious food and used medicinally by indigenous peoples and early colonists. It is somewhat more resistant to Dutch elm disease than American elm. Its large winged seeds are consumed by many birds, and the foliage supports more than 200 caterpillar species.
Best time to see a Slippery Elm
The best time to see a Slippery Elm is April–August, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,205 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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