American Elm
Ulmus americana · Deciduous broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Ulmaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (Straight species)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, demonstrating high adaptability to cold winters and hot summers.
About This Tree
Large, graceful tree featuring a distinctive vase-shaped or umbrella-like canopy with an upright, spreading habit and moderately fast growth rate.
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate, simple leaves, 3 to 6 inches long, elliptic to obovate with coarsely double-serrated margins, an unequal leaf base, and a prominent pinnate venation. Dark green turning yellow in fall.
Bark Characteristics
Dark gray to brownish-gray, deeply furrowed into flat-topped ridges that often intersect in a diamond pattern. When cut crosswise, alternating light and dark layers are visible.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern and central North America, extending from Nova Scotia west to Alberta, and south to Texas and Florida.
Growing Season
Leafs out in early spring following inconspicuous greenish flowers in very early spring; produces winged samaras in mid-spring; goes dormant in autumn with yellow fall color.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained soils but adapts well to periodic flooding and drought once established.
Mature Size
Mature height of 60 to 80 feet, spread of 40 to 70 feet, moderate to fast growth rate, and a typical lifespan of up to 175-300 years under ideal conditions free of disease.
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for its majestic vase shape and shade canopy, though historically impacted by Dutch elm disease. Exhibits high tolerance to urban pollution, soil compaction, and temporary flooding.
Wildlife & Ecology
Supports numerous species of butterflies, moths, and caterpillars as a larval host, and provides nesting sites and buds/seeds for birds and small mammals.