Ulmus 'Fiorente'
Ulmus 'Fiorente' is a hybrid cultivar elm derived from a crossing of the Siberian Elm Ulmus pumila clone 'S.10' (female parent) from Lucca, Italy, with the Ulmus minor clone 'C.02' from Lungarno, Florence, by the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante (IPP), part of the Italian National Research Council, in Florence. 'Fiorente' was patented in 2006, and released to commerce in 2012.[1]
| Ulmus 'Fiorente' | |
|---|---|
 'Fiorente' in autumn, Apennines, Italy. | |
| Genus | Ulmus |
| Hybrid parentage | U. pumila S.10 × U. minor C. 02 |
| Cultivar | 'Fiorente' |
| Origin | IPP, Florence, Italy |
'Fiorente' was introduced to the UK in 2007 by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Branch, Butterfly Conservation as part of its assessment of DED-resistant cultivars as potential hosts of the endangered White-letter Hairstreak.[2]
Description
'Fiorente' is usually monopodial, and capable of exceptionally rapid development; during trials in the Northern Apennine on poor clay soils, growth exceeded 1.0 m in height and 1.5 cm in trunk d.b.h per annum. The tree's habit is conical, with a pronounced apical dominance; lateral growth is limited, the crown therefore rather columnar. The alternate leaves are of moderate size, < 8 cm long × < 5 cm broad; generally lanceolate in shape, they are rough on the upper surface and pubescent beneath,[1] remaining green well into the autumn and shed relatively late, often persisting into December in the UK.[2] The tree usually commences flowering in its fourth or fifth year, during late February in Italy. The sessile samarae are ovate, < 14 × 17 mm.[1]
Bark of 20-year-old tree
Leaves
'Fiorente' on marshland
Pests and diseases
Tested by inoculation with unnaturally high concentrations of the fungal pathogen, 'Fiorente' revealed a good resistance to Dutch Elm Disease, sustaining 32% defoliation and 20% dieback; not as resistant as Lutèce (20% defoliation and 12% dieback), but significantly better than the older Dutch cultivars such as 'Lobel' (50% and 35.5% resp.) released in the early 1970s. Specimens in the field in Italy have exhibited no symptoms of DED or elm yellows. Susceptibility to the elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola is much the same as that of the Field Elm Ulmus minor.[1]
Cultivation
In Italy, the cultivar's rapid growth has bestowed it economic potential as a hardwood timber and biomass tree. Introduced to southern England in 2007 by Butterfly Conservation, the tree is not known to have been introduced to North America or Australasia. [2] 'Fiorente' is exclusively propagated by the Eisele nursery in Darmstadt as one of its 'Resista' series [3]
Etymology
'Fiorente' translates as 'flourishing'.
Accessions
Europe
- Grange Farm Arboretum, Sutton St. James, Spalding, UK. Acc. no. 693.
- Great Fontley Farm, Fareham, UK. Butterfly Conservation Elm Trials plantation, two trees planted 2007.
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK. Acc. no. 20080340
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. Acc. no. not known.
- Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Ampfield, UK. Acc. no. 2008.0367
- Wijdemeren city counsel, Netherlands. Elm collection, ‘s-Gravelandsevaartweg, Loosdrecht, 10 trees planted 2018
Nurseries
References
- Santini A., Fagnani A., Ferrini F., Ghelardini L., & Mittempergher L., (2007). Fiorente and Arno elm trees. HortScience June 2007, Volume 42, Issue 3, 712–714. American Society for Horticultural Science, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
- Brookes, A. H. (2020). Disease-resistant elm cultivars, Butterfly Conservation trials report, 2020. Butterfly Conservation, Hants & IoW Branch, England.
- 'Fiorente' elm, Eisele nursery, Darmstadt