American Elm

Plant Profile
FYUSE 3d Image	Common Name: American Elm Other Name: White Elm Species Name: Ulmus americana Family Name: Ulmaceae, Elm Family Plant Type: Woody


Plant Facts
Origin	North America
Duration	Perennial
Distribution in the U.S.	Eastern half of the country and as far west as the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas and eastern Texas
Distribution in Oklahoma	Throughout the state
Sun Preference	Full Sun
Susceptibility	Dutch elm disease, cankers, phloem necrosis, bark beetle, elm borer, yellows, leaf miner, leaf beetle and gypsy moth

ID Characteristics

Field Identification Characteristics
Vegetative
- Massive trunks with arching branches; slender twigs
- Alternating oval leaves; serrated
- Bark gray and deeply furrowed in scaly ridges
Floral
- Seed encased in flat, papery hull edged in hairs
- Flat, papery round fruits
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Plant Height: 80-foot diameter, 120-foot height
- Leaves: Alternate, simple, ovate-oblong, 3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide, unequal at base, doubly serrate
- Growth Form: Tree
- Leaf Type: Simple
- Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
- Leaf Blade Edge: Double-serrated
- Leaf Blade Length: 7-15 centimeters
Floral Characteristics
- Petal Number: 0
- Flower Color: Green or reddish
- Flower Timing: March-April
- Fruit Type: Samara


Habitat/Ecology
Habitat	Moist, fertile soils of bottomlands
Soil Type	Rich, fertile, well-drained; tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, pH tolerant
USDA Cold Hardiness Zone	3
Successional Stage	Late