Those leaves do look like hackberry, but for me the bark was always proof of species. Hackberry bark is thick and corky, but often has smooth areas between the raised areas.

Trying to load my bark pic but it hasn’t loaded. Trying again. This is not the tree whose leaves I have shown, this is a nearby mature tree with similar leaves.

Arbordave, please educate me. Is it the pattern of the veins that tells the tale here? I would like to get better at this so I can take better care of my small woodland.

Mom a side note, I will have to find the elm tree nearby :-). Do you think this is slippery elm, as it is sandpapery on both sides?

The leaves above aren't right and if you look closely at the bark, it appears to have layers, tightly pressed together. And the bark is hard textured, not easily broken.

Google up some images of Hackberry leaves, Indianagirl. Then compare leaf shape, leaf margins and venation. You'll see big differences between them and your top photo.

"Sandpapery" leaves do indicate slippery elm. IME slippery elm leaves are a bit larger with more pronounced veins than American elm.

hack bark layers .. always reminded me of a croissant .... of course .... i mean the layers ...

per floras suggestion: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Hackberry+leaves&t=ffcm&ia=images&iax=images

and compare with these: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=slippery+elm+leaves&t=ffcm&ia=images&iax=images

I have found a couple of trees that might be the parent of the elm sapling, but the canopy is quite tall and I cannot get to any leaves. I did find smaller trees with similar leaves that are not rough, so I’m guessing I have a couple different elms back there.

Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge!

Both sides fuzzy & big leaves compared to other elms, including American elm -- slippery elm. Hybridizes w/Siberian (NOT Chinese) elm when both are close by.

I just looked at some Hackberry leaves and they almost all appear to have an asymmetrical appearance, where the leaf base radius on one side of the petiole, is larger or smaller than the other side.

This has a genus level dichotomous key as well as background discussion:

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10928

One might think that slippery elm has been almost eliminated by DED, but not true in the mid-Atlantic states. Seedlings & young fruiting trees are common in disturbed areas. It has just become a short-lived weed tree. The hybrid w/Siberian elm lasts for some years (instead of dying quickly) & puts out alot of seedlings while they decline from DED.