Slippery Elm


Name Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)
Type Hardwood.
Other Names Also known as red elm, gray elm, soft elm and moose elm.
Sources Grows in eastern half of United States and southern Canada.
Appearance Straight or interlocked grain with a coarse texture. Dark reddish brown heartwood, frequently with red shades, and grayish white to light brown sapwood.
Physical Props Moderately heavy, hard, tough, difficult to split, shock and wear resistant. Steam-bends very well.
Working Props Works with some difficulty – dulls cutting edges, often produces fuzzy surfaces, and wild grain presents problems when planing. Finishes reasonably well.
Uses Uses include wheel hubs, railroad ties, ship-building, fenceposts, sills, boxes, crates, pallets, cooperage, decorative plywood and veneer, farm vehicles, food containers, baskets, and interior trim. Often sold with American elm as one species.