| Ulmus 'Den Haag' | |
|---|---|
 'Den Haag', Preston Park, Brighton | |
| Genus | Ulmus |
| Hybrid parentage | U. pumila 'Pinnato-ramosa'×Ulmus × hollandica 'Belgica' |
| Cultivar | 'Den Haag' |
| Origin | The Netherlands |
Thehybrid elmcultivarUlmus 'Den Haag' is a Dutch development derived from a chance crossing of the Siberian Elm cultivarUlmus pumila 'Pinnato-ramosa' and the Belgian ElmUlmus × hollandica 'Belgica'.S. G. A. Doorenbos (1891-1980), Director of Public Parks inThe Hague, finding that seeds he had sown in 1936 from the Zuiderpark 'Pinnato-ramosa' had hybridized with the local 'Belgica', selected six for trials. The best was cloned and grafted on 'Belgica' rootstock as 'Den Haag'; it was planted first in that city, then released to nurseries elsewhere in the Netherlands. The other five were also planted in The Hague.[1]
The tree is distinguished by its pendulous branches, and its foliage, which is light-green on emergence but turning lime-green and ultimately deep green by midsummer.[2] The leaves are typical ofU. pumila×Ulmus × hollandica, being very unequal at the base.[3] The seed is central in thesamara.[4]
Although reputed to be slightly resistant toDutch elm disease, drought, and frost, the tree has brittle branches, and is vulnerable to Coral-spot FungusNectria cinnabarina[5]
The tree is named for the city ofDen Haag (known as The Hague in English). An unnamed cultivar of the same parentage stood in Zuiderpark, The Hague, in the mid-20th century.[6][7]
The tree remains in commerce in the Netherlands (on its own rootstock) and New Zealand. 'Den Haag' is not known to have been introduced to North America.
The UKTROBI Champion grows at Preston Park in Brighton, measuring 14 m high by 77 cmd.b.h. in 2009.[8]