RE: Tree with small variegated leaves in Bellagio, Lago di Como

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I think Shelley is on the money about the variegated elm. There are two: Ulmus procera Variegata – the variegated English Elm which is described as having marked variegation of white at the margin and with large splashes and patches going into the body of each leaf. I’ve never seen one in Australia tho’ elms were, and are still, widely planted in the SE section of the land mass. We have never had Dutch Elm disease tho’ we have had Elm Beetles in the avenues and groves around central Melbourne.

 

I have seen the variegated smooth leaved Elm – Ulmus carpinifolia Variegata, which has smallish leaves, finely toothed and showing finely dotted white variegations especially dense towards the edge of each leaf. From Richard’s description this may be the one.

 

Trevor N

 

 

I have a green and white variegated elm, and the leaves are somewhat smaller than an English elm.

Shelley


On 22/03/09 12:49 PM, "Richard Starkeson" <rstarkesonmed@gmail.com> wrote:

This is a longshot - but I have been wondering about this tree for 15 years.
We were walking through the Gardini di Villa Mezli in Bellagio, on our way to lunch (one of the best restaurant lunches I have ever had).
I saw this immense tree.  I remember it being at least 20 meters high; the leaves (or leaflets) were about 4-5 cm long and 2/3 as wide, shaped rather like small Ulmus leaves.But they were variegated - green and white.  Unfortunately, I did not have a camera, so I have only my memory of the tree.

I was wondering if anyone else had passed that way and knew what the tree was. The tree was striking enough, and so large, and the only one of its kind there, that someone familiar with those gardens and with horticultural knowledge would surely know what it was.

Or perhaps someone might know of an Italian horticultural website where I might ask someone what the tree is.

I have not been back to Bellagio since, but if I return there, I will surely try to more precisely identify the tree.

Richard Starkeson,

San Francisco.

Shelley Harvey
Zone 8
Northern Tablelands of NSW (1200m)
Australia
email:  sharvey@une.edu.au