Ulmus americana ~ American Elm

Ulmus americana ~ American ElmAmerican Elm is a tall native vase shaped deciduous tree with a broad rounded crown. The rough dark green leaves are toothed with asymmetrical bases and turn an undistinguished yellow in fall. Inconspicuous green flowers bloom in spring before the foliage and give way to papery wing like seed pods that mature mid spring. Grows best with full sun and rich well drained soils. Tolerates light shade. Ulmus americana is host plant for several butterfly

American Elm is a tall native vase-shaped deciduous tree with a broad rounded crown.  The rough dark green leaves are toothed with asymmetrical bases and turn an undistinguished yellow in fall.  Inconspicuous green flowers bloom in spring before the foliage and give way to papery wing-like seed pods that mature mid-spring.  Grows best with full sun and rich well-drained soils. Tolerates light shade.

Ulmus americana is host plant for several butterfly species, including: the Painted Lady, Eastern Comma, Mourning Cloak, Question Mark Butterfly, and the Red Spotted Purple Butterfly.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance.  Elms are susceptible to Dutch Elm disease and phloem necrosis, which is fatal,  and wetwood which causes dieback.  Other potential issues include wilts, rots, canker, leaf spots as well as pests such as miners, borers, and scale. 

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Rock Gardens, Ponds and Streams, and Shade Tree.

COMPANION PLANTS: Eastern Redbud, Dogwood, Musclewood

IMAGES: Msact, Large American Elm Tree, New Haven, CT - June 10, 2017, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, Ulmus americana (5101983801), CC BY-SA 2.0, (3) Photo by cultivar413, 151029 011 Fifth Ave at 104th St - Ulmus americana American Elm, (4) Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States, American elm (25649945402), CC BY 2.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.