As I generally enjoy looking at and identifying trees whenever I’m outside in the Austin area, I’m always on the lookout for native trees with unique traits that set them apart from others. Cedar Elm, or Ulmus crassifolia, always catches my eye with its long and fully-serrated leaves. Leaves on most native tree species are usually not serrated around the entire leaf, which is the case for the Cedar Elm.
I spotted this large Cedar Elm near my apartment building because along with its leaves, it caught my eye because it provides shade for the the entire yard next door. Cedar Elms are native to the south central region of North America and as they are native to Texas, I don’t often see one as tall as this one. I usually spot Cedar Elms when they are about 10-15ft high, so I was happy to find this next door neighbor which I estimate to be about 50ft tall!
My iNaturalist observation can be found here.