Full sun; moist, well drained soils. This tree can tolerate wet sites and a range of soil pH.
Dutch Elm Disease has seriously compromised the use of this species in North America. The following list includes cultivars of Ulmus americana and hybrids of various elm speices. The trees on this list show moderate to high levels of resistance to Dutch Elm Disease.
American Elm (Ulmus americana) cultivars:
- 'American Liberty'- vase-shaped; also resistant to elm leaf beetle.
- 'Delaware'- also resistant to elm leaf beetle.
- 'Independence'- vase-shaped; also resistant to elm leaf beetle.
- 'New Harmony'- vase-shaped; also resistant to elm leaf beetle.
- 'Princeton'
- 'Valley Forge'- vase-shaped; also resistant to elm leaf beetle.
Elm hybrids:
- 'Accolade'- a cross of Ulmus japonica and Ulmus wilsoniana; vase-shaped; also resistant to elm leaf beetle.
- 'Cathedral'- a cross of Ulmus pumila and Ulmus japonica; vase-shaped.
- 'Danada'- a cross of Ulmus japonica and Ulmus wilsoniana; vase-shaped.
- 'Frontier' - a cross of Ulmuscarpinifolia and Ulmus parvifolia; pyramidal shape; also resistant to elm leaf beetle.
- 'Homestead' - multispecies hybrid, vase shapes, hardy only to zone 5.
- 'New Horizon' - a cross of Ulmus japonica and Ulmus pumila.
- 'Patriot' - cross between 'Urban' and 'Prospector'; must be pruned to obtain a vase shape; hardy to zone 4; resistant to elm leaf beetle.
- 'Pioneer'- cross between Ulmus glabra and Ulmus carpinifolia; broad, spreading habit; hardy to zone 5.
- 'Regal' - complex hybrid; pyramidal shape; hardy to zone 4.
- 'Sapporo Autumn Gold' - cross between Ulmus pumila and Ulmus japonica; vase shaped; hardy to zone 4.
- 'Triumph' -cross between 'Accolade' and 'Vanguard'
- 'Urban' -pyramidal shape.
- 'Vanguard'-cross between Ulmus japonica and Ulmus pumila
The species is distinctly vase shaped. Some of the hybrids replacing the species are vase shaped and others are not.
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Environmental Damage
Fungal Disease
Insect Damage
Phytoplasma Disease
Additional pests and problems that may affect this plant:
Numerous problems. The most serious is Dutch Elm Disease which has seriously limited the use of this species (see cultivars for improved selections). Also affected by elm yellows, phloem necrosis, verticillium wilt; elm leaf beetle and elm leaf miner.
The actual species is seldom used due to susceptibility to Dutch Elm Disease. See the cultivar section for other choices.
