Cultivar 'Frontier' | Origin USA | |
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Hybrid parentage U. minor × U. parvifolia Similar Ulmus 'Morton' Accolade, Ulmus 'Morton Glossy' Tr, Ulmus 'Patriot', Ulmus 'Homestead', Ulmus davidiana var japon | ||
Ulmus 'Frontier' is an American hybrid cultivar [4], a United States National Arboretum introduction (NA 55393) derived from a crossing of the European Field Elm Ulmus minor (female parent) with the Chinese Elm Ulmus parvifolia in 1971. Released in 1990, the tree is a rare example of the hybridization of spring and autumn-flowering elms.
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Description
'Frontier' develops a vase or pyramidal shape, with glossy green foliage turning, unusually for elms, to burgundy in autumn. The twigs are pubescent. Slow growing, the ultimate height of the tree has yet to be determined, but should be > 15 m. The tree is autumn-flowering but rarely does so, and has not produced seed.
Pests and diseases
'Frontier' has a good resistance to Dutch elm disease, rated 4 out of 5, but tolerance of Elm Yellows in the USA was found to be poor. No mortalities are known to have occurred from the latter disease, however, and the cultivar is not known to be vulnerable to infection through natural means. The tree can be heavily to severely damaged by the Elm Leaf Beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola[5], although it fared better than most of the cultivars assessed at U C Davis, suffering little more than 10% foliar damage. Although susceptible to attack by Japanese Beetle, it is far less seriously affected than most hybrid cultivars available in the USA.
Cultivation
In trials in eastern Arizona [6], 'Frontier' and another American hybrid, 'Regal', were found to have the highest tolerance of the hot and arid climate, notably exhibiting minimal leaf scorch. However, 'Frontier' is known to have sustained winter damage where planted in the Great Plains [7]. This failing was repeated in the elm trials conducted by the University of Minnesota, although the tree often recovered the following year. It was also criticized for its form and integrity, considered "unsuitable" for urban forestry. 'Frontier' fared better in 10-year trials at Atherton, California, to evaluate replacements for Californian elms lost to disease: "Strong structure, rapid growth rate, attractive leaf color in spring and fall, and relatively low pruning requirement suggest that Frontier has promise...", although the tree again proved only moderately tolerant of elm leaf beetles. The tree is currently being evaluated in the National Elm Trial [8] coordinated by Colorado State University.
'Frontier' has had a limited introduction to Europe, where it is largely restricted to arboreta and elm collections; it also featured in trials in New Zealand during the 1990s at the Hortresearch station, Palmerston North.