Wood Species Guide
Winged Elm
Ulmus alata
Also called: Wahoo, Wahoo Elm, Cork Elm (regional, shared), Small-leaved Elm
What Winged Elm looks like
Heartwood is light to medium reddish brown, and the sapwood is pale tan. Color is similar to other elms.
Grain and texture
Interlocked grain with a fairly fine texture for an elm, since the tree grows slowly. Corky wings on the twigs give it its name, not the wood.
Working Winged Elm: planing, cutting and gluing
Hard and tough, with interlocked grain that resists splitting. Planing can tear out, so take light passes. The small trees give narrow boards, and it dries with some warp.
Finishing Winged Elm: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil and film finishes well. Elm grain is porous, so a seal coat before an epoxy pour helps prevent bubbles. The color warms slightly over time.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not rot resistant and susceptible to insects. Logs left on the ground in Florida spalt and draw beetles quickly. Mill soon, sticker well and keep finished pieces indoors.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Winged elm grows wild in north and central Florida and is planted as a street tree, so it shows up from tree crews. The trees are small, so expect turning stock, small boards and the odd short slab. Its toughness made it a favorite for tool handles and hockey sticks in the South. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source local wood.
Common uses for Winged Elm
Tool handles, furniture parts, boxes, crates, flooring, turnings and small slabs.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. Common across its range.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
Few reports on winged elm itself. Elm dust occasionally irritates eyes and skin, and serious reactions are rare.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Elm dust can act as a sensitizer, usually as eye and skin irritation. Use dust collection and a mask.
Winged Elm in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Winged Elm listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
Similar woods: Ashes & Elms
- White AshIn stockFraxinus americana (lumber often includes green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica) White ash is strong, springy and light in color, the wood of choice for baseball bats and tool...
- American ElmUlmus americana American elm is tough, interlocked and full of swirling grain. Since Dutch elm disease, most elm comes from...
- Black AshFraxinus nigra Black ash is the swamp ash of the North, softer and browner than white ash and famous for...
- Cedar ElmUlmus crassifolia Cedar elm is the hardy native elm of Texas and the south-central states. Its tough, reddish wood is...
- European AshFraxinus excelsior European ash is the Old World twin of our white ash: tough, springy, pale and ring-porous. Its olive...
- HackberryCeltis occidentalis and Celtis laevigata (sugarberry) Hackberry, and its Florida cousin sugarberry, is a pale, ash-like hardwood that is easy to work and bends...