Eating the Worst Tree on my Yard - Siberian Elm

Is there a tree that just grinds your gears? Puts a bee in your bonnet? If so, perhaps you live in North America and have Siberian elms.
Originally brought to North America in the 1800s, and gaining much popularity as American elms died off en masse from Dutch elm disease, these arboreal rapscallions turned out to be pretty invasive, and spread like the Dickens. Fortunately, they're also edible, and even kind of tasty.
*Disclaimer: As is sometimes necessary to say on the internet, the rant at the start of the video is partially facetious. These are egregiously invasive in some areas, but in the right place, these are a great plant.
Plants in this video:
Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
Family: Ulmaceae (Elm family)
Other names*: Litteleaf Elm, Dwarf Elm, Asiatic Elm, 비술나무 (Bisulnamu), 西伯利亞榆 (Xībólìyǎ yú), 钱榆 (Qián yú)
*sometimes called Chinese elm, though this can lead to confusion with Ulmus parvifolia, which more commonly goes by that name.
Links:
Fried Samaras:
translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=www.meishij.net/zuofa/chaoyuqian.html&prev=search&pto=aue
Samaras with Eggs:
translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=www.mszx001.com/recipe/3717.html&prev=search&pto=aue
Samara and Pork Steam Buns:
www-mszx001-com.translate.goog/recipe/4623.html?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=zh-CN&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB&_x_tr_pto=nui
Credits:
Host: Sam
Writing: Sam
Editing: Sam
Camera: Sam
Chainsaw Camera: The Wife
Background Mom: Mom
Title Music: 'The Cascades' by Scott Joplin, played by Sam
Title Camera: Julia Goertzen and Sam
Title Graphic: Julia Goertzen
Thumbnail: Sam
Chinese Assistance: Zach Adrian
Ending Music: 'In the Hall of the Mountain King' by Edvard Grieg, played by Kevin MacLeod
Images:
Chinese Coin: Scott Semans, CC-BY-3.0
Elm in Winter: Richard Warkentin
Sponsored by: Stanley Soil Management Association
(Opinions presented in this video are those of the presenter and not necessarily representative of those held by the Stanley Soil Management Association or Richard Warkentin)
Special thanks to Richard Warkentin

[@thetawave2473]

Best video on foraging this tree beastie that I have ever seen, thanks!

[@AmblingwithSam]

Haha thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@oscarc8549]

Interesting! Just a side note, they are not invasive everywhere in the U.S. I did not know that they are sterile in south Texas until I moved to San Antonio. Our climate prevents flower buds from opening and hence never set fruit. Single specimens here remain single with no offspring. I read that in places like San Diego, California, Siberian Elm never flowers nor sets fruit due to the climate there.

[@richardwarkentin3541]

Good to know they are not invasive everywhere!

[@AmblingwithSam]

Oh interesting! Colour me jealous.

[@Lightharvest-dd2bf]

Maybe there isn't enough winter chill in either city to switch the tree into full reproductive rediness.

[@matshagstrom9839]

So well described, what is amazing is I purchased a Serbian elm and have Bradford pear in my driveway. Once I get my tree to flower I’ll try eating them as well. I just want to share my appreciation for your way of viewing the world and sharing your opinions Simply an enjoyable video

[@AmblingwithSam]

Thanks! I really appreciate it. Let me know how it goes.

[@j.t.cooper2963]

I had 3 huge ones (55 years old) removed from my property a few weeks ago. I couldn't be happier now that they are finally gone and turned into a mountain of mulch.

[@AmblingwithSam]

Nice. That is my preferred state for Siberian elms to be in as well.

[@hammond6305]

That ending was🔥

[@2Jeezuzisreal]

Thank you good to know. Great job on a great video

[@brasolm7947]

I stay in South Africa and I have been trying for months to remove this trees in my yards.

[@AmblingwithSam]

Oh, I didn't realize you guys had them there too. They are pretty tough trees unfortunately.

[@zacharyadrian410]

Yay! Been waiting for this one!

[@Terrorfrombeyondspace]

Legitimately good video

[@2Jeezuzisreal]

Great video thanks I need help identifying. I'm in Minneapolis area Mn. And I found a small shrub like dwarf , looks like a small elm leaf hybrid multiplying like crazy in this lady's backyard for about 10 to 12 years. she was just not aware that it is the worst root and was growing into her chain link fence. Hundreds and hundreds of them and spreading into the neighbors. The root grows to the size of an arm. But it doesn't have a trunk it's a group of gnarly twisted thick fat fingers that grow up in all directions then it shoots stems that go up to 6 to7 and 8 ft. I identified it as an elm tree because of the small leaves look just like the pictures I see online. So I assume it's a dwarf hybrid but there's no way a nursery would ever sell this ugly looking piece of junk. When I cut into it it's a thick sticky sap. I managed to kill them easily by cutting it low and drilling a few holes in the base and fill them with Roundup. Has anyone else ever heard of this or any other tree that looks like a elm leaf.?

[@AmblingwithSam]

Oh interesting. Without seeing pictures, it's hard for me to say, and you may have a few different invasives in Minneapolis that I wouldn't have seen in Manitoba, but based on your description I think it's at least possible it's Siberian elm. I know in areas that are mowed only infrequently, I've seen them grow somewhat like you describe, with the base beneath what the mower can reach slowly getting fatter while it sends out thinner tall shoots. I have also seen a couple get gnarled, twisted, and stubby when someone used roundup on them, without using enough to kill them completely. So maybe something like that, or like you mentioned an odd hybrid, or maybe mutation? But again hard to say without seeing the plant. The one part throwing me is the thick sticky sap. The ones I've worked with tend to have small amounts of slightly sticky/slippery sap, but not much, at least in the summer, other than a couple where the trees had what looked like a diseased wound. Some other trees and shrubs that come to mind that could have somewhat elm-like leaves could include alders, hazelnuts, maybe some hackberries (less likely). I think those would be less likely to match the rest of your description though.

[@richardwarkentin3541]

Looking forward to this one!

[@Jabberwalks]

That's really cool digging into some Chinese recipes. I'll have to try that or maybe ask some friends to do some translating for chestnut recipes!

[@micheleaustin794]

I've caught my dogs on several occasions eating the leaves..... now I know. Thanks for the informative video !. I hate these damn trees 🤬

[@davidthomson802]

Going to be twiddling my thumbs and waiting for May now to see if there's a hole in these samurais that will corroborate your excellent tale of strung money. Time is money, but during a famine, food is money.

[@heathermacphail5812]

Interesting

[@stgjaden_5053]

I have a shit ton of Siberian elms

[@AmblingwithSam]

Yeah, I feel you.

[@davidthomson802]

well dang, where were you in May when I was happily eating the maple next door to this Siberian elm. No question mark as I can see that your video's from last October. Now that you mention, I do remember a lot of white coming down and thinking, hmm, that's not snow. Whether they were these samurais, well, now I'll have to wait till next spring.

[@ericwanderweg8525]

I can appreciate the animated way in which you describe these invasive trash trees as needing to be completely wiped from our native landscapes. There’s one at the bottom of my street and I hope it’s pollen doesn’t drift up to my native red elm, making hybridized bastard child seeds 😂

[@mariopng7686]

How did you keep your elm alive from the disease?

[@ericwanderweg8525]

@@mariopng7686 They live just fine in the wild untouched until they get large enough to look good to the bark beetles… it’s a crapshoot for when that might happen though. The one in my yard is still young, about a 2 inch diameter trunk 15 feet tall. There’s no telling how long it’ll live. Could die when the trunk hits 4-5 inches, or it could live to be 2 feet. There’s a lot of them around still, it’s just that they don’t live to be the giants they used to be.

[@AmblingwithSam]

Unfortunately I've checked and chopping down neighbours' trees isn't legal in my province. Maybe in yours?

[@Lightharvest-dd2bf]

@@ericwanderweg8525 That tall vase shape was extraordinary.

[@2Jeezuzisreal]

That sounds familiar let me describe what I found in Minnesota. An elm like leaf on a small dwarf bush. Hundreds of them growing in a ladies backyard out of control 6to7 ft tall weed looking but not full like a normal bush. it has a gnarly thick root but no trunk. It is grotesque root and about 8 thin shoots that go up. I cut them short and drilling holes in the and poured poison into them. They appear to be all dead now. Now I have to go through the whole neighborhood and talk to the neighbors about killing them. Is this from a nursery?

[@davidthomson802]

Sorry, couldn't think of any disparaging remarks. You caught me off guard.

[@ADVNevada]

nice stuff to know, I have many of these on my property in Nevada. They wont grow very well here without human help, so I suppose they are not invasive here. they grow super fast and use little water so its a great tree for my area.

[@gina6432]

Hi, thank you! I live in AZ, we have land with no trees, and a neighbor gave me some of these to keep the dirt from blowing away.

[@raphlvlogs271]

they are also less durable than other elm species such as Ulmus parvifolia and Ulmus glabra.

[@AmblingwithSam]

Interesting. We don't have many other elms around to compare with, but we have noticed a somewhat high number of the Siberian elms in our windrow dying as the row matures.

[@davidthomson802]

@@AmblingwithSam yes, ours, if it is a Siberian, is none too healthy. Well, I'll fatten him up in April and see how much of him I can eat.

[@bariah606]

So interesting and entertaining!

[@Pho7on]

Can't wait until I eat a tree next Spring.

[@sjgoertzen8478]

Good one, Sam! It's even punny! (@ approx 6:00.)

[@skybluskyblueify]

What about tapping for syrup?

[@AmblingwithSam]

Oh, that might be a really good idea! Looking into it, it looks like it can be done. I can't find much specifically on Siberian elm, but American elm apparently makes decent syrup, though with a lower starting sugar concentration than maple, it will take longer to boil down. The caveat with American elms would be that the stress could put them at greater risk of getting Dutch elm disease. But that's not an issue with Siberian elm, and now I'm really curious how well it would work.

[@davidthomson802]

@@AmblingwithSam yeah, bleed the thing. Seems a bit vindictive but I'm ready to try. Again, will have to wait till April I guess.

[@kimlau6662]

Sam, get elm oyster mushroom from this tree! or add spores to the tree and harvest them

[@AmblingwithSam]

Oh hey, I hadn't thought of that. I haven't seen them on any of my elms, but inoculating them could be a fun project.

[@Lightharvest-dd2bf]

@@AmblingwithSam A great opportunity, and one that most of the West doesn't have with this elm--climate is too dry.

[@davidthomson802]

I was licking my tree today. Well, sort of my neighbour's tree. I was licking it because I thought it was a slippery elm, and it had this viscous sap that bound our handsaw and didn't rinse off the saw. Thinking the sap was medicinal slippery elm, I fell to licking. As one does. We call it the tree that ate our garden, because four years ago it was dying and then I brought all my compost down to the yard and we built a big raised bed and in July three years ago I noticed this shadow on the deck and looked up and it was healthy and growing, kind of looming over the yard. Menacing, or friendly, depending on, you know...

[@AmblingwithSam]

Late response here, but I appreciate your comments, and I feel like we would get along, haha.