Transcription of American Elm - NDSU Agriculture and Extension
1 American Elm slide 56c360%slide 56d380%slide 56b360%III-113 American Elm(Ulmus americana)General DescriptionThe state tree of North Dakota. A large vase-shaped treeadapted to a wide variety of sites. No longer recom-mended because of its susceptibility to Dutch Elm largest tree in North Dakota is 62 feet tall with acanopy spread of 74 and BudsBud Arrangement - Color - Smooth, sharp-pointed, and Size - Lateral buds are small, 1/4 inch Type and Shape - Simple, unequal at the base, Margins - Surface - Glabrous to rough above, pubescent ornearly glabrous Length - 3 to 6 Width - 2 to 3 Color - Dark-green above, lighter green below; yellowfall and FruitsFlower Type - Polygamo-monoecious, in fascicles of 3 or Color - Greenish-red to Type - Winged samara , oval-globose and wafer-likein appearance, Color - Light-green, changing to Habit - Trunk divides into several erect archinglimbs above, umbrella to - Medium-coarse, summer; medium-coarse, Height - 45 to 65 Width - 30 to 50 Color - Dark gray-brown, with broad ridges anddeep System - Root spread is greater than height.
2 Rootsystem is shallow, fibrous, and in dry areas may have a RequirementsSoilsSoil Texture - Grows best in rich, moist, well-drained soils,but adapts to a wide range of soil pH - to Suitability Group - 1, 1K, 3, 4, 4C, HardinessUSDA Zone tolerant, but prolonged drought stress predis-poses trees to pests. Tolerant of infrequent, short durationflooding during the growing sun to partial tree for farmstead and field windbreaks, and , buds, and tender young twigs are used as food bybirds and mammals, particularly ProductsWood - Used in fine furniture, boxes, barrels, and for firewood, but hard to - Extracts of some Ulmus species have been usedas a demulcent, an astringent, a diuretic, and for inflam-mation, burns, cold sores and wound favorite tree for all sites, but no longer recommendedbecause of Dutch Elm VarietiesUlmus americana Ascendens and Augustine - Cultivarswith columnar americana Lake City , Moline , and Minneapolis Park - Variably vase-shaped.
3 Due to susceptibility to Dutch Elmdisease, the above cultivars are rarely planted (seeJapanese Elm and Siberian Elm for Dutch Elm diseaseresistant cultivars.)Related SpeciesDavid Elm (U. davidiana)European White Elm (Ulmus laevis)Japanese Elm (U. davidiana var. japonica)Lincoln Elm (U. rubra Lincoln )Rock Elm (U. thomasii)Slippery Elm (U. rubra)PestsBesides Dutch Elm disease, common diseases includewetwood, black leaf spot, and branch cankers. Commoninsect pests include cankerworms and aphids. Deerbrowse damage can be serious on young
