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A Brief History of the American Elm Tree

At one time the American Elm was one of the most popular street trees in the United States.  Known for its fast growth and large vase shape, the elm provided shade to many urban forests.  The tree is adaptable to many sites and climates growing to a height of 80 plus feet high and spreading up to 60 feet wide.  The devastating history of the American elm changed the face of America’s landscape.  Since the 1930’s as many as 100 million elm trees died from Dutch elm disease in the United States.  The disease is a fungus that is carried by the bark beetle and also spreads through root connection.   Trees are no longer planted in monoculture stands and through research that began in the 1970’s, we now have American elms that are tolerant of D.E.D.  The best candidates for re-elming in this region are Ulmus americana ‘Valley Forge’ and Ulmus americana ‘Princeton.’  These two selections are a testimony to survival and are naturally resistant to Dutch elm disease.

American Elm History Facts:

  • In 1963 the disease is found in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • In 1983 Dutch elm disease is in all but 3 of Minnesota’s 87 counties
  • The past 30 years, in depth research has been done to breed and select elms that are tolerant to Dutch Elm Disease (D.E.D.)
  • In recent years, communities across the country have begun planting D.E.D. resistant American elms in an effort to replace the ones lost.
  • Spring 2005, Historic re-Elming of 88 Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’ took place on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, a tradition of Elm planting that began in 1826 by President John Quincy Adams.
  • A tree provides $3 to $7 in annual benefits for every dollar invested in its care.
  • Signs of D.E.D. include: Leaves on individual branch brown and yellow (called flagging), overall yellowing and browning of leaves, brown discoloration in sapwood  located on outer rings of wood when cut through, symptoms often observed in early summer, but may be seen anytime during the growing season.

 

Edelweiss Design offers a general maintenance program by certified arborists; don’t give up on your existing elms!