American Elm

Also going by the names White Elm, Soft Elm, Water Elm, or Common Elm, this medium to large deciduous tree typically grows 60 to 80 feet tall with a vase-shaped, broad-rounded crown. This handsome tree serves as a larval host for a number of butterfly species, and both its seeds and leaf buds are eaten by birds. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, and in moist, fertile soils. Once a very common American forest and street tree admired for its stately habit, the vast majority of American Elms were devastated by the introduction of Dutch elm disease in the 1930s. Ask your nursery about disease-resistant American Elm varieties.