Ulmus davidiana var. japonica 'Mitsui Centennial'

Ulmus davidiana var. japonica 'Mitsui Centennial'
Variety	Ulmus davidiana var. japonica
Cultivar	'Mitsui Centennial'
Origin	Canada

The Japanese Elm cultivar Ulmus davidiana var. japonica 'Mitsui Centennial' is a cold-resistant selection raised at the Morden Experimental Station, Manitoba, Canada, in the 1970s, originally for use in the prairie regions.^[1][2] It was named to mark the centenary in 1980 of the London branch of Mitsui & Co., being one of a batch of Asiatic elms, some sourced from Canada (including 'Jacan'), donated to the UK in that year by the company.^[3]

Description

Similar in appearance to 'Jacan'.^[1] The species does not sucker from roots.^[4]

Pests and diseases

The tree is more resistant to Dutch elm disease than 'Jacan', and is also resistant to elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola [1].^[1]

Cultivation

Largely restricted to Canada, 'Mitsui Centennial' is represented in Europe by a specimen at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Hampshire, England, where it has grown strongly in a sheltered location on London Clay.^[5] A grove of 'Mitsui Centennial' was planted in 1980 near the Parsee Fountain on Broadwalk, Regents Park, London.^[6][7]

Accessions

North America

• Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. No acc. details.

Europe

• Grange Farm Arboretum, Sutton St James, Spalding, Lincolnshire, UK. Acc. no. not known.
• Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey, Hampshire, UK. Acc. no. 1981.0134

References

1. Burdekin, D.A.; Rushforth, K.D. (November 1996). "Elms resistant to Dutch elm disease" (PDF). Arboriculture Research Note. 2/96. Revised by J.F. Webber. Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham: Arboricultural Advisory & Information Service: 1–9. ISSN 1362-5128. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
2. 'Return of the Elm - the status of elms in the nursery industry in 2000. Warren, K., J. Frank Schmidt and Co.'
3. Mitsui & Co., Ltd., London Branch: 'Centenary in 1980: Ulmus', June 1979
4. Heybroek, Hans M. (1981). "The Japanese elm species and their value for the Dutch elm breeding program" (PDF). Proceedings of the Dutch Elm Disease symposium and workshop, October 5–9, Winnipeg, Manitoba: 78–90.
5. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Ampfield, UK, (2015). Ulmus database
6. 'A grove of Japanese elms', The Royal Parks Foundation
7. Mike Fitt, 'A History of Elms in London', 2024; elms4london.org