American Elm (Ulmus americana)

American Elm

(Ulmus americana)

Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA

CC BY-SA 2.0

Image By: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0 | Uploader: File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Ulmus_americana_(5101983801).jpg | Notes: User created page with UploadWizard |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Ulmus americana, commonly known as American Elm, is a deciduous tree native to a variety of habitats including moist bottomlands, floodplains, and well-drained upland areas in the eastern half of the USA. It can reach a height of 120 feet and a width of 40-70 feet. The American Elm is known for its graceful, vase-like shape, making it a popular street and landscape tree. It exhibits a canopy of dark green leaves that turn yellow in the fall. The small, inconspicuous flowers appear before the leaves in early spring, followed by flat, winged seeds known as samaras. This species is valued for its adaptability to urban conditions and its ability to form dense canopies along streets.

The American Elm thrives in full sun and requires high amounts of water, with a preference for soils that offer fast to slow drainage. It is commonly used in urban plantings, lawns, and parks for its distinctive growth form and ability to create a leafy canopy over streets. Despite its hardiness against cold, withstanding temperatures as low as −42 °C (−44 °F), American Elm is highly susceptible to Dutch elm disease, which has devastated populations. Resistant cultivars have been developed to combat this issue.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Tree
Height: 60-80 feet
Width: 40-70 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fire Resistant, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant

Natural Habitat

Moist bottomlands, floodplains, and well-drained upland areas

Other Names

Common Names: White Elm , Water Elm , Weißulme , Amerikanische Ulme , Orme Blanc , Orme D’Amérique , Olmo Americano , Amerikansk Alm

Scientific Names: Ulmus americana , Ulmus americana var. floridana , Ulmus floridana , Ulmus americana var. pendula , Ulmus americana f. alba , Ulmus americana f. laevior , Ulmus americana f. columnaris , Ulmus americana f. pendula , Ulmus mollifolia , Ulmus americana f. americana

GBIF Accepted Name: Ulmus americana L.