Caucasian elm

Kew’s oldest Caucasian elms were planted in 1762, which is when the tree is thought to have first been introduced to Britain.

Historical information

Three specimens of the Caucasian elm (Zelkova carpinifolia) were planted at Kew; records show that by 1905 they had exceeded 18 metres in height but they were not noted as historical trees at that time. Little is known about their provenance. Although they date back to the Gardens’ formative years, they are unlikely to have been bought by Princess Augusta as they are not located on the site of her original arboretum.

One stands in the Herbarium paddock (which is not accessible to visitors), another fine example is located near the Brentford Gate (this may well also be one of the original three). Another mature tree that had stood beside the main gate blew over in a storm in 1990.

About this species

This elm hails from the Caucasus, a mountainous region of southeastern Europe that lies between the Black and Caspian Seas and encompasses parts of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and southeastern Russia.

The tree has grey bark and serrated evergreen leaves. Its short trunk rarely exceeds two metres and splits into many upright branches. The wood is hard and durable but is not often used to make furniture because the elm does not yield suitably sized lengths of timber.

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