The winged elm gets its name from the very broad, warty growths, thin and wing-like, that grow along its branches. The “wings” are irregular and sometimes look more like knots than wings. The tree is a small one, usually growing to a height of 40 to 60 feet tall. Its branches form a vase shape with an open, rounded crown. The leaves of the winged elm are small and oval, a dark green color with paler, hairy undersides. If you start growing winged elm trees, you’ll find that they provide a fall display by turning a bright yellow at summer’s end. Flowers are brown or burgundy and appear before the leaves in March or April. They produce the fruit, a very short orange samara that disperses by the end of April.
