The Slippery Elm: A North American Tree That Once Helped Pitchers Throw Curveballs

Gardening · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known for its mucilaginous inner bark, the slippery elm is a versatile North American native. Beyond its traditional use as a soothing demulcent, this tree provided durable timber for wagon wheels and even secret aid to baseball pitchers who used its bark to manipulate the flight of the ball.

Ulmus rubra, commonly called the slippery elm, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It is distinguished from the similar American elm by its hairy, reddish-brown buds and downy twigs. The tree earns its name from the slimy, mucilaginous inner bark, which has long been utilized by Native Americans as food and in folk medicine to address gastrointestinal distress and sore throats. Today, this bark remains a commercial over-the-counter remedy for its soothing properties.

The tree's wood is prized for its interlocking grain, which provides shock resistance, making it useful for wagon wheel hubs and archery bows. Historically, it was also favored for fence posts and railway ties due to its durability. Beyond its structural uses, the inner bark produces a strong fiber that can be spun into rope, thread, or bowstrings. Its utility even extended to early 20th-century baseball, where players like Gaylord Perry famously used slippery elm tablets to increase saliva viscosity, helping them throw more effective curveballs.

While the species is generally considered less vulnerable to Dutch elm disease than other American elms, it faces significant threats from the elm leaf beetle and hybridization with the introduced Siberian elm. Despite its native range spanning from North Dakota to Florida, it has struggled to thrive in the United Kingdom since its introduction in 1830. Today, the tree is rarely planted for ornament, though it remains a subject of interest for its unique biological properties and historical applications in both medicine and sport.

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