The Ulmus pumila cultivar 'Aurescens' was introduced by Georg Dieck at the National Arboretum, Zöschen, Germany, circa 1885. Dieck grew the tree from seed collected in the Ili valley, Turkestan (then a region of Russia, now part of Kazakhstan) by the lawyer and amateur naturalist Vladislav E. Niedzwiecki while in exile there.Dieck, G. (1894). Neuheiten-Offerten des National-Arboretums zu Zöschen bei Merseburg, 1894/95.Hansen, N. How to produce that $1000 premium apple, in Minnesota State Hort. Soc. (1900). Trees, fruits & flowers of Minnesota. Vol. 28. 470-1. Forgotten Books, London, 2013. Dieck originally named the tree U. pinnato-ramosa f. aurescens.
Description 'Aurescens' is distinguished by its golden leaves on emergent shoots in spring; the foliage reverts to dark green by summer.
Pests and diseases This cultivar has not been scientifically tested for Dutch elm disease resistance. Two old specimens have survived unscathed by the disease in the UK (see 'Notable trees').
Cultivation The tree is rare in Europe and unknown in North America and Australasia. In trials in England, it quickly perished where grown on winter-waterlogged ground.Brookes, A. H. (2015). Great Fontley Elm Trial, 2015 Report. Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, UK.
Notable trees Two mature specimens are known in the UK: one at Bute Park Arboretum, Cardiff, planted c. 1980, height 15 m × 65 cm d.b.h. in 2004; another grows in a private garden at Seaford, East Sussex, recorded in 1995.Johnson, O. (ed.). (2011). Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland. p. 171. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London.
Accessions Europe Bute Park Arboretum, Cardiff, UK. One tree, tag number 1907, planted c. 1980, no other accession details available. Grange Farm Arboretum, Sutton St James, Spalding, Lincolnshire, UK. As U. pumila var. arborea 'Aurescens'. Acc. no. 1092. Stanmer Park Arboretum, Brighton. Brighton & Hove Council list, 2025. No accession details.'Rare elms in the spotlight for Sussex Tree Festival', 11 June 2025 Wijdemeren City Council elm collection, Netherlands. 5 planted in Overmeerseweg, Nederhorst den Berg, 2015.
Nurseries Europe Noordplant , Glimmen, Netherlands.
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