Identify this sapling?

[Kevster]

I live in Delaware and found this little one growing in with one of my Maples so I gave it a new home. I believe it is an American Elm by the obvious leaves.

Is this a correct assumption? I would have planted it in the round but it had very little root structure so a pot life is what it gets till the roots are more established.

If this is an American Elm what is the growth rate like?

 

[rockm]

Might not be an American elm, but looks to be an elm species. In any case, elms are very vigorous growers. It looks to be potted in coarser soil, so you'llhave to make sure it doesn't get too dry.

 

[Kevster]

It is fairly coarse soil. It's all I had at the time. All my left overs from sifting I had just given away. Go figure!
But I did mix a little pine park in with it which isn't visable because I guess the stuff on top blew away. I do check the dampness of the soil everyday.

Thanks for the reply. I guess when it's older it will be easier to determin the type of ash if indeed that's what it is.

 

[rockm]

My money would be on Siberian elm (ulmus pumila) given the leaf shape and that species invasive nature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulmus_pumila

American elm leaves tend to be rounder and larger. They're also more markedly asymmetical with a noticeable "dent" on one side of the leaf at the stalk.
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=41

Siberian elm can make decent bonsai, but it's unstable because it is a "pioneer" species that colonizes areas quickly. It grows quickly, but it it senses problems in an area of its trunk or branches, it tends to abandon growth that and start elsewhere. That means it can drop limbs and twigging extensively under bonsai culture...But for you, that's probably down the road, as you will concentrate on bulking up the trunk and do little pruning for a few years.