American Elm
Ulmus americana
Also known as: White Elm
Historically the quintessential American street tree, with vase-shaped silhouette. Dutch elm disease devastated wild populations; modern DED-resistant cultivars ('Princeton', 'Valley Forge', 'Jefferson') restore the form. The inner bark has been dried and used as a coffee-like drink, a minor historical use.
- Family
- Ulmaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 60–80 ft
- Spacing
- 40–70 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral, alkaline
- Bloom
- February, March, April
- Bloom colors
- red, green
- Wildlife value
- songbirds, butterflies, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~215 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen, rain garden
- Native states
- AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY