Ulmus americana
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American Elm
Ulmaceae
Also known as Ulmus floridana
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Tree | |
| Size: | 60-80 ft tall by 20-40 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Green,NA | |
| Fruit Color: | Brown,NA | |
| Phenology: | Deciduous | |
| Noted for: | Fall color, Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Shade tree, formerly used as a street tree noted for its spreading urn-shaped crown. Tolerant of root disturbance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | Susceptible to Dutch elm disease. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Seed or cuttings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, Quality nurseries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Clay, Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Circum-neutral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
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| Insects: | Larval host for: Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma), Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) | |
| Native Habitats: | Floodplain forest, wet mesic forests, hardwood swamps. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| General Comments: | This tree is subject to Dutch elm disease. While not as much a problem in Florida as further north, it should be a concern for anyone planning to use this species in a landscape setting. In most of eastern North America, this tree has largely disappeared from landscape use due to mass mortality from Dutch elm disease. |