Botanical name: Ulmus americana
Family: Ulmaceae

Click on images of American Elm to enlarge.

A.K.A. water elm, white elm

• native to eastern North America
• deciduous
• reaching 55-85′ (before dutch elm disease commonly reached well over 100′ in height)
• tall arching, upright, vase shaped crown often without branches near the base of the tree 35′-65′ in width
• trunk can be 3.5′-4′ in diameter
• bark is deeply furrowed and light to dark grey in color
• Broad, flat, simple leaf with double serrated (toothed) margins
• uneven base on the leaf margin
• alternate arrangement on stem and lacks a terminal bud
• hermaphroditic – self pollinating flowers
• produces single seeded, flat, circular samaras with hair-like edges
• rapid growth rate
• tolerant of many stress factors including temperatures in excess of -40F
• grows naturally in bottom lands and wetter areas, although it is a highly adaptable tree
• susceptible to both dutch elm disease and verticillium wilt
• prune in late September to October
• adaptable to alkaline 8.0 pH and acidic 5.1 pH soils
• full to partial sun
• zone 2-9