American elm has long been a favorite due to its lovely vase-shaped growth habit.  America's recent past saw many town streets' lined on either side exclusively with elm trees, creating a cool, beautifully leafy tunnel.  In the 1930s, the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease was introduced to North America with catastrophic results.  Millions of trees were killed and the disease is still prevalent today (click here to see more on Dutch elm disease).  Diseases are able to spread rapidly within mono cultural (single species) plantings because there are no trees of other resistant species to slow infection.  Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata), a related species, has been utilized as a replacement because of its similar growth habit and immunity to the disease.  Tree breeders are currently working on disease resistant American elms in an effort to keep alive the legacy of this graceful symbol of Americana.

The seeds are eaten by a number of small birds.  The flower bud, flower and fruit are eaten by mice, squirrels, opossum, ruffled grouse and northern bobwhite.  For additional information regarding the biological and ecological characteristics of American elm, click here.

The tree pictured here is growing on the southwest side of the Dimond library.  For a list of other American elm as well as other elm species locations on campus, click here.

Native throughout eastern North America.