How to Identify a Siberian Elm

Look for a tree growing between 50 and 70 feet tall. The width is often in the same range as the height of a Siberian elm. Trunk diameters of Siberian elm develop to 18 inches, but most are smaller than that.

Observe the open and rounded crown of the Siberian elm. Look for the tree to feature thin, spreading branches, according to the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees: Eastern Region."

Study the different facets of the Siberian elm foliage. The leaves are dark green, but turn shades of dull brownish-yellow by autumn. Measure the leaves; they are between ¾ of an inch and 3 inches in length, with widths up to 1 inch. The edges possess a series of teeth similar to those found on a saw blade. The base of the leaf is blunt, while the shape as a whole is elliptical.

Examine the tiny, greenish flowers that bloom on a Siberian elm in the early springtime. The flowers are of little importance ornamentally, but they do yield a rounded seed known as a samara. The samara is ½ inch in diameter, features a deep notch at its tip and is a green hue.

Inspect the bark of a Siberian elm. It has a rough texture, possessing a series of furrows and ridges. Siberian elm bark varies, being darker to light shades of gray.