How to identify American elm (Ulmus americana)

How to identify American elm (Ulmus americana)

American elm, also known as Water elm

American elm is a deciduous tree notable for its vase-like stature, reaching heights of 18 to 24 meters (60 to 80 feet) with a spread of 9 to 18 meters (30 to 60 feet). Its bark is a distinctive dark gray, characterized by interwoven, flat ridges. The branches bear smooth brown stems. The leaves are green, simple, and arranged alternately; they feature a doubly serrate margin and an asymmetric base. Undersides of the leaves have a soft pubescence. In autumn, the foliage transitions to a gentle soft yellow. Inconspicuous greenish-red flowers bloom in late winter to early spring, followed by the emergence of flat, oval, papery-winged seeds in mid-spring.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify American elm

Vase-like tree, 18-24 meters (60-80 feet) tall with spread of 9-18 meters (30-60 feet).

Dark gray bark with interwoven, flat ridges; smooth brown stems with green leaves.

Ovate-elliptic rough-textured leaves, 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long, toothed margins.

Greenish-red flowers in clusters of 3-4, 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) across, blooming in early spring.

Samaras with thin papery wing, greenish to tan, aiding wind dispersal, abundant in April-May.

Detailed Traits of American elm

Leaf Features

The leaves of american elm are rough-textured and ovate-elliptic, measuring 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long. They are dark green with toothed margins, featuring asymmetrical bases and a long, slightly curved point. The vein pattern is prominently parallel, and in the fall, they typically turn an undistinguished yellow.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

American elm produces small, greenish-red flowers that form in drooping clusters of 3 to 4. These tiny blooms, about 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) across, emerge in early spring before the leaves. The flowers lack petals and are arranged in a clustered, pendant formation, making them less conspicuous. Blooming primarily from February to March, these flowers release a faint scent that attracts early pollinators, helping to mark the seasonal renewal of the plant.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of american elm consists of samaras featuring a small central seed encapsulated by a thin, oval to rounded, papery wing. Clustering on long stems, these winged fruits facilitate wind dispersal. The samaras exhibit a greenish to tan color, maturing concurrent with the leaf full size in the spring, generally in April and May. They are typically seen in abundance from March to April, especially noticeable in regions like North Carolina.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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American elm and Their Similar Plants

Siberian elm vs. American elm: What's The Difference?

Siberian elm is a deciduous plant recently introduced to Southern Europe from Asia. The plant rapidly resprouts from its roots and is considered invasive. It is planted to break winds and control soil erosion. The plant is quite hardy and can grow in soils that are saline or polluted.

Chinese elm vs. American elm: What's The Difference?

Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) is a small, deciduous elm tree native to China, Japan, North Korea, and Vietnam. This tree is considered to have the hardest wood of all elm tree species. Commercially, its wood is used to make baseball bats, bows, and the handles of tools. Ornamentally, the chinese elm is used in landscaping in areas with a good amount of full sunlight.

Field elm vs. American elm: What's The Difference?

A common use for field elm (Ulmus minor) and other types of elm trees is for their wood, which has an interlocking grain and is therefore resistant to splitting. This tree has a distinctive crown, and you can tell it apart from the similar wych elm by noting the fact that its shoots are more slender.

Winged elm vs. American elm: What's The Difference?

Winged elm (Ulmus alata) is a tree species native to the southern United States that's also known as the wahoo. This is a slow growing species of plant that is particularly resistant to herbicides.

Wych elm vs. American elm: What's The Difference?

You don't see wych elm (Ulmus glabra) much anymore because Dutch elm disease wiped out much of its population. The caterpillar form of the white-letter hairstreak butterfly depends on this tree for nutritional sustenance, so it's also in decline. In medieval magical beliefs, elm trees supposedly had the power to give you prophetic dreams.

Slippery elm vs. American elm: What's The Difference?

Slippery elm is an elm tree native to North America that grows throughout the United States and Canada in both dry and moist soils. The inner bark has a slippery texture that gives the tree its name. Though not often used in carpentry, the wood is fibrous and can be turned into excellent twine or rope. This species is susceptible to damage by the elm leaf beetle.

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Key Facts About American elm

Attributes of American elm

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree

Plant Height

18 m to 35 m

Spread

12 m to 21 m

Leaf Color

Green

Yellow

Flower Size

2.5 cm

Flower Color

Green

Red

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Scientific Classification of American elm

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Roses, elms, figs, and allies

Family

Elm

Genus

Elms

Species

American elm (Ulmus americana)

Learn More About the American elm

Distribution Map of American elm

American elm comes from the eastern side of North America, where it grows in a wide range of ecosystems, often near water or in swampy ground and floodplains. It has not been naturalized elsewhere.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the American elm

A Comprehensive Guide to American elm How to Grow and Care for American elm