{"id":148,"date":"2026-08-24T19:46:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T19:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/?page_id=148"},"modified":"2026-10-15T13:22:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T17:22:45","slug":"american-elm","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/trees\/american-elm\/","title":{"rendered":"American Elm"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Ulmus americana<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Overview<\/h2>\n<p>The American Elm was once one of the most widely planted and admired shade trees in North America. Known for its graceful vase-shaped form, arching branches, and exceptional size, it became a signature tree of streets, parks, campuses, and public spaces throughout the eastern United States.<\/p>\n<p>Native to West Virginia and much of eastern North America, the American Elm is valued for its beauty, adaptability, and ecological importance. Although populations declined dramatically during the twentieth century due to Dutch elm disease, the species remains an important part of the region&#8217;s natural and cultural landscape.<\/p>\n<h2>Identification<\/h2>\n<h3>Leaves<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Oval-shaped leaves with pointed tips<\/li>\n<li>Distinctly uneven leaf bases<\/li>\n<li>Coarsely toothed margins<\/li>\n<li>Dark green during the growing season<\/li>\n<li>Yellow fall color<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Bark<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Gray to dark gray bark<\/li>\n<li>Deep furrows separated by broad ridges<\/li>\n<li>Develops a distinctive diamond-like pattern with age<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Flowers<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Small, reddish-green flowers that appear in early spring<\/li>\n<li>Bloom before the leaves emerge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Fruit<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Flat, circular winged seeds known as samaras<\/li>\n<li>Mature in spring and are dispersed by wind<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Size<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Typically grows 60 to 80 feet tall<\/li>\n<li>May exceed 100 feet in ideal conditions<\/li>\n<li>Characteristically develops a broad, vase-shaped crown<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Native Range<\/h2>\n<p>The American Elm is native to eastern North America and occurs naturally throughout the Appalachian region, including West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. It grows in a variety of habitats, including floodplains, stream banks, bottomland forests, and upland woodlands.<\/p>\n<p>Its adaptability to different soil conditions helped make it one of the most popular urban shade trees in North America.<\/p>\n<h2>Ecology and Wildlife Value<\/h2>\n<p>American Elm provides food, shelter, and nesting habitat for a variety of wildlife.<\/p>\n<p>Its seeds are consumed by birds and small mammals, while its foliage serves as a food source for numerous insects. Mature trees provide valuable nesting sites and shade, contributing to healthy urban and forest ecosystems.<\/p>\n<p>Because of its large size and spreading canopy, American Elm can also help reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and intercept stormwater.<\/p>\n<h2>Human Uses and Cultural Significance<\/h2>\n<p>For centuries, American Elm was one of the most important shade trees in North America. Its distinctive arching canopy often formed &#8220;cathedral-like&#8221; corridors along streets and walkways.<\/p>\n<p>The wood has traditionally been used for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Furniture<\/li>\n<li>Veneer<\/li>\n<li>Crates and boxes<\/li>\n<li>Agricultural equipment<\/li>\n<li>Flooring<\/li>\n<li>Specialty wood products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>American Elm also holds cultural significance as a historic campus, town, and city tree throughout much of the eastern United States.<\/p>\n<h2>American Elm at Marshall University<\/h2>\n<p>American Elms contribute to the diversity of the Marshall University Arboretum and represent one of North America&#8217;s most iconic shade tree species.<\/p>\n<h2>Dutch Elm Disease<\/h2>\n<p>Although American Elms remain valued for their beauty and ecological contributions, the species is perhaps best known for its association with Dutch elm disease, a fungal disease that dramatically reduced elm populations across the continent during the twentieth century.<\/p>\n<p>Dutch elm disease has had a lasting impact on elm populations throughout North America and remains one of the most significant tree diseases in history.<\/p>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/highlights\/dutch-elm-disease\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button green \">\n\t\t<span>Learn about Dutch Elm Disease<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n<h2>Quick Facts<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Common Name:<\/strong> American Elm<br \/>\n<strong>Scientific Name:<\/strong> <em>Ulmus americana<\/em><br \/>\n<strong>Family:<\/strong> Ulmaceae<br \/>\n<strong>Native Region:<\/strong> West Virginia Native<br \/>\n<strong>Mature Height:<\/strong> 60-80 feet (occasionally 100+ feet)<br \/>\n<strong>Mature Spread:<\/strong> 60-100 feet<br \/>\n<strong>Growth Rate:<\/strong> Fast<br \/>\n<strong>Sun Requirements:<\/strong> Full Sun to Partial Shade<br \/>\n<strong>Soil Preferences:<\/strong> Moist, well-drained soils; adaptable to a variety of conditions<br \/>\n<strong>USDA Hardiness Zones:<\/strong> 2-9<br \/>\n<strong>Bloom Period:<\/strong> March to April<br \/>\n<strong>Fruit\/Seed:<\/strong> Winged samaras produced in spring<br \/>\n<strong>Wildlife Value:<\/strong> Provides food, cover, and nesting habitat for birds, mammals, and insects<br \/>\n<strong>Notable Characteristics:<\/strong> Vase-shaped crown, arching branches, and historical significance as a premier American shade tree<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ulmus americana Overview The American Elm was once one of the most widely planted and admired shade trees in North America. Known for its graceful vase-shaped form, arching branches, and exceptional size, it became a signature tree of streets, parks, campuses, and public spaces throughout the eastern United States. Native to West Virginia and much<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":224,"featured_media":0,"parent":6,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-narrow.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-148","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/224"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=148"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/148\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":675,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/148\/revisions\/675"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}