Growing the New Harmony American Elm

Size and Appearance

The New Harmony American Elm is a fast-growing deciduous tree, adding 3 feet a year once established and while young, maturing into a large shade tree up to 65 feet tall. The branches arch out from the top of the trunk, forming a vase-shaped crown that will be up to 70 feet across. Remember those dimensions when choosing a planting place, and don’t plant anywhere near overhead wires. Plant at least 30 feet from buildings and not close to your property line without the agreement of neighbors. This is a long-lived tree and deserves a chance to live that long life. This tree develops a tall trunk, which becomes broad, up to 3 feet across. The branches rise vertically at first and then arch over, forming a broad crown high in the air, throwing lots of shade. The bark is rough and irregular, mottled in shades of dark and lighter brown, and gray, with long vertical ridges running down the trunk. The leaves are 3 to 6 inches long, and oval, with a smooth, glossy surface and a characteristic irregular base – one side is longer than the other. The edges are neatly serrated into pointed teeth, with further small serrations along those – called double-serration. A warm, deep green, the leaves turn a beautiful clear, glowing gold in fall. Older trees will flower, carrying hanging clusters of small white flowers from the branches before the leaves emerge. These can develop into clusters of flat, papery seeds ¾ inch across, which flutter to the ground in May, without making any significant litter.

Using the New Harmony American Elm in Your Garden

This magnificent tree is a natural for a shade tree on a large lawn. Fast-growing, it will soon be big enough to throw a useful shadow. Grow it as an avenue along a driveway or private road, spacing the trees at least 30 feet apart. Use it at the edge of natural woodland, and even make it into a bonsai, but it is as a single specimen or an avenue that it is most beautiful.

Hardiness

The New Harmony American Elm is incredibly hardy, growing well in zone 4 and even in warmer parts of zone 3. It is also reliable across a wide climate range, taking hot and humid summers and growing well in zone 10. Once established it is drought tolerant, although there is a connection between stress from drought and disease, so an occasional deep soaking of young trees would be a good idea.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

A mature elm needs to be in full sun, but young trees will grow in partial shade, and this may even be helpful in encouraging the tree to grow tall and upright, giving a better vase-shape when mature. It grows very well in just about any soil, another reason for its popularity. Although it prefers best to be in deep, rich and well-drained soils, it will grow happily in both acidic and alkaline ones, sands or clays, and tolerates wetter soils too. It is also resistant to the effects of de-icing salt. This is an amazingly adaptable tree that will grow almost anywhere, even with air pollution and poor soil.

Maintenance and Pruning

The New Harmony American Elm is normally free of any significant pests. As for Dutch Elm Disease, it won the National Elm Trials, held between 2005 and 2015, with an 85.5% survival rate. Not 100%, but in the natural world nothing is perfect. It also came second in trials where trees were deliberately infected, an even stronger test. We can’t guarantee that at some point in the future your tree won’t become infected, but there is a very good chance it won’t. If yours is the only elm tree in your neighborhood you have an even better chance.

To have the best mature tree possible, keep the main trunk free of small branches, taking off a few every year or two, to avoid the scars from removing bigger branches. Remove any crowded branches from the crown at the same time. Keep a single central trunk (leader) for as long as possible.

History and Origin of the New Harmony American Elm

The New Harmony American Elm was found as a natural tree growing along Interstate 70 near Springfield, Ohio. Plants were made from pieces of that tree in 1980. It was assessed at the Maryland Agricultural Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture by A. M. Townsend and L. R. Schreiber, top authorities on the American Elm and Dutch Elm Disease. It proved very successful, combining excellent disease resistance with vigorous growth and the development of the classic vase-shaped crown that is so desirable in this tree. It was released by the National Arboretum to growers in 1994, but not made available to the public until 2004, after over 20 years of assessment.

Buying the New Harmony American Elm at the Tree Center

We are excited to have found some stock of this great tree, genetically identical to that first Ohio tree. The New Harmony American Elm is certainly the best looking of all the possible modern varieties, and almost certainly the most disease-resistant. Now is your chance to bring back this iconic tree, but order now – everyone misses it, and everyone wants to grow one.

But today we have hope again, because a very small number of trees had resistant genes, and the most outstanding one available seems to be the Prairie Expedition® Elm Tree. A true American elm, not a hybrid, this tree is a lone survivor from North Dakota, found by the State University and released in 2004 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. If you want to again have an elm in your garden, this is the tree you have been waiting for.

Growing the Prairie Expedition® Elm Tree

Size and Appearance

The Prairie Expedition® Elm Tree is a true American elm, growing 55 to 60 feet tall, with a long, unbranched trunk and an arching crown that will spread to a width of 40 feet. The branches arch out at about 45 degrees, creating the classic vase-shape that makes this tree so distinctive. It is fast-growing, and young trees can add 5 feet to their branches every year under ideal conditions, for at least the first few years. The dark-gray bark is deeply ridged and furrowed when mature, giving a noble look to this tree. The leaves are 3 to 6 inches long, and 1 to 3 inches wide, with crisp veins and a double-toothed margin. If you look closely you will see that the base of the leaf is irregular – longer on one side than the other. This is characteristic of the tree. The leaves are very handsome, slightly glossy and a rich dark green. They turn yellow in fall. Older trees will produce seeds, which are released in May. These are like thin, papery wafers, rounded, with each one carrying a single seed. They do not make a major neatness problem, soon blowing away.

Using the Prairie Expedition® Elm Tree in Your Garden

This is the greatest shade tree of them all, growing tall, so it doesn’t block windows or occupy a lot of ground space, but arching over into a broad, dense crown that will shade your whole house in summer. Plant it on a lawn, or among other existing shade trees in wooded areas. Make an avenue or boundary markers with it, spacing the trees between 10 and 40 feet apart, depending on the density you want. Be careful not to plant beneath overhead lines, or within 20 feet of a building or property line. Don’t plant near to drain or sewer pipes.

Hardiness

One reason for the popularity of the American elm is how large a part of the country it can be grown in – all the way from icy zone 3 to hot and humid zone 9 – a remarkable range.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Prairie Expedition® Elm Tree should be planted in full sun, or in a place where the crown will soon be in the full sun. It grows best in deep, rich, well-drained soils, but another reason for its popularity is how amazingly adaptable this tree is, growing in almost every soil. It tolerates both very acidic and very alkaline soils, grows in everything from sands to clays, and in both dry and wet ground. It is incredibly adaptable, growing almost anywhere at all.

Maintenance and Pruning

Some formative pruning as it develops is worthwhile, to have the best tree possible. Keep the main trunk clean of small branches, pruning up a few each year, to avoid scarring and to leave foliage to help the vigor and growth of the tree. Thin out the crown of crowded branches, and when you see a pair of branches with a tight, narrow space between them – called a narrow crotch – remove one branch, as these are stress points where breakage under snow, ice or high winds can happen.

This tree is generally free of any significant pests or diseases. It has generally performed well in trials against Dutch Elm Disease, Ophiostoma, which is spread by 3 different species of elm bark beetles. It is widely recognized as being very resistant to this disease, although that doesn’t equal immunity. We can’t guarantee that at some point it won’t become infected, but we can tell you that it is very unlikely. The very fact that there are few elm trees around means that isolated trees have very good chances of survival.

History and Origin of the Prairie Expedition® Elm Tree

The Wild Rice River is a tributary of the famous Red River of North Dakota. It was there, near Fargo, in 1994, that horticulturists from the North Dakota State University found a group of dead elm trees. Among them was one tree still living. Pieces of the stems of that tree were taken back to the University and successfully rooted. Checks of that original tree up to 2008 found it still in perfect health. In 2004 the University released plants grown from those stem pieces, giving it the name of ‘Lewis & Clark’. To benefit the Research Foundation of the University, the tree was released with the trademark name of Prairie Expedition®.

Buying the Prairie Expedition® Elm Tree at the Tree Center

Resistant elm trees are always in high demand, and difficult to obtain. We have found some great trees, genetically identical to that first tree near Fargo, and growing on their own roots. If you love America’s elm, then order right away, but these trees will be sent to new homes very, very quickly.

The Lacebark Elm is a deciduous shade tree, growing one or two feet a year to reach 35 to 40 feet tall, with a crown spread of 20 to 35 feet. That full, rounded crown throws a good area of shade, and this tough tree is especially useful in urban gardens because it really takes well to that tough environment. The leaves are 1 to 2½ inches long, and they are neat ovals, with noticeable teeth along the edges (but not spiny). The leaves have a solid, leathery texture, and a shiny surface. In summer they are a rich, deep green, turning yellow to burgundy in fall, making a good display. But it is the bark we are here for, and it certainly is splendid. Once your tree has matured a little the gray bark begins to flake and peel in irregular shapes. These reveal the underlying bark, which is cream, orange, brown and green, making a beautiful patchwork, or lacy, effect. Flowers are insignificant, and they are reddish-green, and hidden among the leaves. A small winged seed develops in fall.

Grow the Lacebark Elm as a shade tree on a lawn, or as an avenue lining a long driveway. Plant a row along your property line or use it as a screen – it trims well – to hide a bad view or give you privacy. Plant it among existing trees in a wooded area, where its ability to grow in partial shade will allow it to fill in spaces among much older trees. It also makes a great subject for bonsai, with its neat foliage and handsome bark. With ‘oriental credentials’ it looks good in Asian-style gardens, a style that is always popular. When planting consider the final spread of the crown, and plant at least 15 feet away from walls, buildings, windows and other potential obstructions. Don’t plant it beneath overhead wires, as the last thing you want it to see its graceful branches removed for safety. Always take your time choosing the right spot for a tree. After all, it is going to be with you for a long time, and it deserves careful placement.

For urban settings the Lacebark Elm is hard to beat. some shade is almost inevitable in an urban garden, and thankfully this tree grows in both full sun and partial shade. It will grow in almost any soil. Although it prefers rich, well-drained soils, it is very adaptable, and is perfectly happy to be in wetter or drier soils, too. As for hardiness, this tree is good anywhere from zone 4 to zone 9, so that covers almost all the country. What makes it an especially great choice is that, although an elm tree, it is not affected by Dutch Elm Disease, which devasted elm planting all across the country, last century. It is also safe from leaf beetles and the nasty Japanese beetle too. Diseases usually don’t cause any problems, and this trouble-free tree needs nothing special. If you want to use it for screening, it trims well, and it can be grown as a large hedge. To enjoy the bark at its best, trim up the lower branches early in its life, to reveal a nice tall trunk. By doing it early you won’t be left with unsightly scars, as this will be quickly covered by the expanding diameter of the growing trunk. A tall trunk will really show off the bark, and why waste a great feature?

The Lacebark Elm, Ulmus parvifolia, grows wild all though south-east Asia, from China, Taiwan, Japan and North Korea, down into northern Vietnam. Prized for its graceful form, it is sometimes called Chinese elm. This is an unfortunate name, as it is a name also used for the Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila. Don’t confuse the two, as the Siberian Elm has a justified reputation as a weedy, much inferior tree that you may have already learned to avoid. For this reason, the name Lacebark Elm is much better. This confusion may account for the relative scarcity of this tree in home gardens, although it is widely used by knowledgeable landscapers and city parks, as specimen trees, and as a street tree. That should tell you that this elm tree is a great urban choice. Our trees are grown from seed taken from parent trees with good form and tough genes, so you get the best. Everyone loves beautiful tree bark, so these trees will soon be gone. Order now, while our stock lasts.

Growing the Frontier Elm

Size and Appearance

The Frontier Elm is a medium-sized deciduous shade tree reaching a height of 25 feet within 20 years, with a spread of 15 feet. It will grow to be around 40 feet tall, and probably spread about 30 feet wide. It has a sturdy trunk, branching into a broad crown of vertical and spreading branches. It has smooth, gray-green bark that doesn’t shed, creating an elegant look. The small, oval leaves are glossy, between 2½ and 4 inches long and up to 2 inches wide, with small serrations along the edges. with parallel veins radiating from the central leaf vein. In summer the leaves are a rich and attractive green, and with the first cold of fall they turn rich burgundy-purple, making a unique show for an elm tree. This tree is worth growing for its fall color alone, and the leaves hold on the tree for a long time after they color, creating a very worthwhile display. Because it is a hybrid tree it only very rarely produces any flowers (which are seen in fall, if they should appear), and none of the potentially messy seeds of some other elms.

Using the Frontier Elm in Your Garden

The Frontier Elm is a great choice for a lawn specimen, or for planting along the sunny edge of a wooded area. Grow a row as a boundary marker or privacy screen, gaining wind and noise protection as well as beauty. With its adaptability it can be used in many different situations. Allow enough room when planting for this final size – and don’t plant beneath low utility lines, or within 20 feet of buildings or boundaries.

Hardiness

The Frontier Elm is very hardy, growing in zone 4, and just as well in southern Florida and Texas. Almost everyone can grow this elm in their garden, wherever they live.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun will give the best fall coloring, and develop a sturdy, attractive tree. The Frontier Elm is a tough tree, able to grow well in a wide range of soils, from clays to sands and from acid to alkaline. It is drought resistant and grows in damp soil too. In fact, it will grow anywhere except in soil that is flooded for extended periods. It even grows well in harsh urban conditions, making it an excellent choice for a city garden.

Disease and Pest Resistance

The Frontier Elm has a high level of resistance to Dutch elm disease, which caused the loss of millions of American elm trees across the nation and around the world in the 20th century. It also has moderate resistance to elm leaf beetles, doing better in trials than most other elms, and showing no more than 10% leaf damage, making these pests not a serious issue for it. Although, like many other varieties, it can become infected with elm yellows, another serious elm disease, in laboratory experiments, it doesn’t become infected naturally when grown in the landscape. All-in-all this tree is an excellent choice when compared with many other forms of elm.

History and Origin of the Frontier Elm

The Frontier Elm is a unique hybrid elm, created by the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit of the U.S. National Arboretum Plant Introduction, part of the USDA, in Washington. Dr Alden Townsend was a research geneticist in that unit, specializing in elm tree breeding. In 1971 he collected pollen from a spring-flowering elm, Ulmus minor, the smooth-leaf, or field elm. This is the most common elm in Europe, and it is also known as Ulmus carpinifolia. He stored that pollen at low temperature, and then used it to pollinate flowers of the lacebark elm, Ulmus parvifolia, which naturally flowers in the early fall. After almost 20 years of testing and screening plants, the best seedling from this cross was released in 1990 with the name ‘Frontier’.

Buying the Frontier Elm at The Tree Center

It is wonderful that we have elm trees again, and the Frontier Elm is truly unique. This great shade tree is suitable for any garden, and highly recommended. Order now, because it is always in high demand, and it is always difficult to find. Once gone we don’t know when we will have it again.

Growing the ACCOLADE Elm

Size and Appearance

The Accolade Elm is a tall deciduous tree with a strong central trunk and high crown, which has a characteristic arching, rounded form, with broad spreading upper limbs. The bark of mature trees is a dark, silvery gray, with long, deep vertical furrows running up and down it. This tree is fast growing when young, adding around 3 feet to its height each year. It will grow to over 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide within the first 20 years. The growth rate falls to 1 or 2 feet a year by then, but this tree will ultimately grow to around 60 feet, with a crown up to 40 feet across.

The shiny dark green leaves are smaller than on the American elm – they are typically about 4 inches long – but larger than the Siberian (Chinese) elm. They are broad ovals, tapering to a pointed tip, and with the characteristic ‘off-set’ attachment seen in elm trees. The veins are prominently V-shaped, and the edges of the leaf are broken up into attractive jagged serrations. In fall the leaves turn a rich, dark, golden yellow, making a lovely display at that season. Flowering is inconspicuous.

Using the ACCOLADE Elm in Your Garden

As a grand specimen tree on a lawn, the Accolade Elm is very hard to beat. Reproduce the avenues of old by planting a row along a driveway or your property line. Fill a corner of your yard with one, growing above your smaller flowering trees. Plant it beside the house – allowing plenty of room for its ultimate size – for great curb appeal. This is such an iconic tree that it should be planted anywhere and everywhere.

Hardiness

This tree is perfectly hardy in zone 5, and all the way into zone 8, with good growth across a wide range of climate zones.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Accolade Elm should be planted in full sun or partial shade, with at least 4 hours of direct sun each day. Usually if planted in some shade it will grow up into the sunlight in time. It will grow best in any moist, well-drained soil, but established trees have good drought tolerance. It grows well in both acidic and alkaline soils, but not in poorly drained and regularly water-logged soils. It is relatively resistant to salt spray and salt runoff.

Disease & Pest Resistance

The most important consideration when planting elm is its resistance to the lethal fungus Dutch elm disease. Spread by beetles that deposit the spores beneath the bark, there is little point in planting an elm that is not resistant, because sooner or later it will succumb. The original Accolade Elm withstood three devastating epidemics since 1924, and even some trees that did become infected made good recoveries. This tree also shows good resistance to elm yellows, another serious disease, and to the less important but still troublesome elm leaf beetle. The tiny European elm tree weevil can sometimes be a minor problem, but all the major issues of elm are resisted well – plant it and relax, while it grows to full maturity.

Maintenance and Pruning

Some formative pruning is recommended as your Accolade Elm grows and develops. Prune only between mid-October and mid-April, for disease control. Watch for the possible development of two leading vertical stems (called co-dominance) and remove the weaker one before the stems thicken too much – there should be one clear central stem growing up. If you see any side-branching rising very sharply, creating a tight, narrow fork, remove them, leaving branches with wide, U-shaped junctions to the main stem. This protects against future weakness and potential breakage. Water young trees well, and no other special care is needed.

History and Origin of the ACCOLADE Elm

The Accolade Elm has a complex back story. It originated at the world-famous Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts, as a seed among many collected from an Elm tree there. By 1924 it was a young tree growing on the grounds of the Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Illinois, outside Chicago. Although the leaves are smaller, experts were struck by its resemblance to the American elm, Ulmus americana. At first it was thought to be a unique plant of the Texas cedar elm, Ulmus crassifolia, but later it was confirmed to be a hybrid between two Asian species, the Japanese elm (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica) and Wilson’s elm (Ulmus wilsoniana), from China. However, taxonomists have now decided that Wilson’s elm is only a form of the Japanese elm, which means the Accolade Elm is no longer considered a true hybrid, but a tree resulting from the cross between a Chinese and a Japanese form of the same species. Whatever the complexities of naming it botanically, it was given the variety name ‘Morton’, recognizing where it was found (and where the original tree still grows), and trademarked with the name ACCOLADE to benefit Chicagoland Grows, Inc., a not-for-profit group developed by Morton Arboretum and the Ornamental Growers Association of Northern Illinois, to promote hardy and reliable trees and shrubs.

Buying the ACCOLADE Elm at The Tree Center

We know how loved the American Elm was, and we are excited to have this perfect replacement to offer you. Disease resistant and fast-growing, it has exactly the look that made the American Elm tree such an icon. The demand for these trees is always high, and the supply is limited, so order now, while we still have plants available to ship.

The Cedar Elm is a tall deciduous shade tree, reaching over 50 feet in height, with an upright trunk and a vase-shaped crown. The bark is gray-brown, and on a mature tree the bark is rough and slightly peeling, with closely spaced deep, irregular grooves in it. On younger stems the bark is smoother. The leaves are the smallest of any elm tree, no more than 2 inches long, giving this tree a fine visual texture. The leaves are oval, with a prominent central vein and side veins coming off at a broad angle. The edges of the leaves are roundly serrated, and they are thick, with a slightly rough, sandpapery feel. The leaves turn golden yellow in fall, making a very attractive show. Once they are gone this tree changes from casting deep, cooling summer shade to letting the warm sun of winter through. It’s a great choice for planting near the south-facing side of a house, for cooling, but don’t plant closer than 20 feet from a building.

While most trees flower in spring, the tiny flowers of the Cedar Elm don’t appear until late July, and they may come as late as early September. The seeds develop quickly, so by late September or in October you will see clusters of seeds along the branches. These look like tiny green ravioli, with a central bump that is the seed. They turn golden brown when they are ripe, and they blow away in the wind. Because both the seeds and the leaves are small, this tree doesn’t make a lot of litter or mess that needs cleaning up.

Because it is so tough, the Cedar Elm is a great choice for planting in urban areas and on poor soil. It makes an excellent shade tree on a lawn, or planted in a paved area, and it could be grown among a collection of other trees in an open, semi-wild area too. It will grow in very alkaline soils and in salt-contaminated soil as well. It grows in clay, including compacted clay from construction activity, and once established it is very drought resistant. Yet it also grows well in wet soil, so this reliable tree can be grown almost anywhere. It is hardy in zones 6 to 9, an for all warmer parts of the country, especially areas with hot, dry summers, this tree is a great choice.

When many people hear the word ‘elm’ they can think ‘Dutch elm disease’, but while it is possible for the Cedar Elm to catch this disease, it is rare for it to do so, and most trees remain disease-free, unlike the notoriously-susceptible American elm (Ulmus americana). Other pests like elm leaf beetles can occur, but they are normally not a problem, and this tree is generally free of serious pests and diseases. It needs no special care, but when young it is helpful to do some formative pruning, to develop a good crown, removing one of two branches when they are both the same size where they meet. These ‘narrow crotches’ can lead to breakage in the future. It is better to have a limited number of main branches, with more slender side branches growing from them.

The Cedar Elm, Ulmus crassifolia, is native to southern and eastern parts of Texas, where it can be abundant, as well as being found in southern Oklahoma and parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and northern Florida. In some Texan cities it is planted as a tough street tree, but outside those areas it is rarely seen. This is a loss, since such a reliable and versatile tree deserves to be more widely grown. Its unusual name comes from it often growing in the wild alongside ‘cedar’ trees – which are actually a type of Juniper. Despite this confusion, the name is useful and distinctive, although it is sometimes also called the Texas Elm, which is very appropriate to its natural location. Whatever we call it, this tree is only rarely available, and it will sell out fast, so order now and enjoy a tree that is both tough and beautiful, and part of our native tree heritage.

The Princeton Elm Tree was not developed for its disease resistance – that was a stroke of luck – but instead for its beauty, so this is a superior tree in the old style, with a sturdy central trunk and branches that spread out at 45 degrees, arching over as they mature, making a beautiful and symmetrical vase-shaped crown that gives you exactly the classic beauty of the American elm. The leaves are 3 to 6 inches long, and 1 to 3 inches wide, with crisp veins and a double-toothed margin. The leaves of this variety are particularly handsome and deep green, with a lustrous upper surface, and they turn bright yellow in fall. The dark gray bark is deeply ridged and furrowed in mature trees, and you won’t be waiting long to see maturity, since this tree grows as much as 5 feet each year, when young.

Growing Princeton Elm Trees

Plant the Princeton Elm Tree on a large lawn as a majestic shade tree. Plant an avenue along a driveway – allow at least 20 feet between each tree, for the best effect. Use a row to mark your property boundaries or get together with neighbors or your local community to create a classic American street along your very own street. 

The Princeton Elm Tree will grow best planted in full sun, and grow most vigorously in deep, moist, well-drained soil. But there is no doubt this is a tough tree, which is why it was once so widely planted. It will grow in almost any soil, both acid and alkaline, clay or sand, and from wet to dry, adapting well even to the poorest soils. Once established it has good drought resistance, and this tough and hardy tree grows well in both hot and cold parts of the country. 

It is worth taking some care during the development of your tree, to give it the best and most durable form. Keep the main trunk free of small branches, pruning up gradually, as the trunk thickens, until you reach the height you want for it. Then watch for overcrowding in the crown, especially branches making very narrow crotches (the space between a pair of branches), with a narrow angle between them. Prune, and select branches to keep the crotches wide, as this prevents breakage from snow and ice.

We are not going to claim this tree is ‘disease proof’ – and don’t listen to anyone else who falsely makes such a claim about any American elm tree. No tree, especially an elm, can be guaranteed to live for ever without disease. But we will say that the Princeton Elm Tree is certainly very resistant to Dutch Elm Disease, and it has stood up for many years much better than just about any other variety that exists today. In scientific trials the rate of infection has been less than 10%, and some of the trees that were infected were saved by good pruning. With a better than a 90% chance, this tree is a very good bet for a long and healthy life. Besides Dutch Elm Disease, no other pests or diseases are likely to be major problems, and you can rest comfortably with the Princeton Elm in your garden.

History and Origins of Princeton Elm Trees

You might think that this tree has some connection with the University of the same name, but actually it was developed in 1922 by Princeton Nurseries, a large commercial nursery of the time, in Kingston, New Jersey. The nursery was founded in 1913 by William Flemer Jr. and he selected this tree for its beauty, and then called it ‘Princeton’ after his nursery. It was a seedling selection of the American Elm, Ulmus americana. That tree grows all through the east, across Canada from Nova Scotia to Alberta, and down into Montana, south to Florida and across into most of Texas. Even wild trees grow everywhere from swamps and riverbanks up onto well-drained hillsides, showing how adaptable this tree is. In forests it is tall and relatively narrow, and it is only when planted in the open that it develops that much-loved arching crown of many ascending branches.

After Dutch Elm Disease killed so many trees, it was noticed that some had survived, and showed resistance to the disease. The ‘Princeton’ variety was seen to, by chance, have survived very well, which is why today it is recognized as one of the very best of an elite group of disease-resistant elms, recommended by expert arborists for planting. If you are doing further research on this tree, you should be aware that it has not performed so well in the British Isles, for various reasons, so information from UK websites can be misleading for American conditions. We have a good supply of top-quality plants, but they will sell out quickly, so order now.

Be assured, the Drake Elm is very different, and it grows into a handsome tree with a rounded crown, no more than 45 feet tall. It has small leaves, good fall color in cooler areas, and it is evergreen in warm areas. It also has very attractive bark, mottled gray, and peeling to reveal tan and red bark beneath. This handsome bark has led to it also being called the Lacebark Elm.

Growing Drake Chinese Elm Trees

Grow the Drake Chinese Elm as a specimen tree in a lawn, as a screen, or behind large shrubs. If you have a large, open lawn area, grow a selection of different trees on it, including the Drake Chinese Elm, as an attractive, low-maintenance way of bringing interest and structure to your garden. Because it is so tough, the Drake Chinese Elm is ideal for those awkward corners, and narrow planting beds, which can be hard to fill in interesting ways. The new stems are slender, and easily trimmed, and the tree is fast-growing, adding at least 3 feet a year during the first decade.

Hardiness

This tree grows from zone 7 to zone 9. In zone 7 the leaves will fall late in the year, in November or December, coloring attractive shades of bronze and gold. In zone 9 this tree is more-or-less evergreen, staying green all winter, and just losing a few leaves. In this feature the Drake Chinese Elm is considerably more evergreen than common Chinese elm trees are. This makes it very useful for screening, since there is no time of year when it is bare and open.

Planting and Initial Care

The Drake Chinese Elm grows best in a sunny spot, although it will tolerate some light shade too. It grows well in almost all kinds of soil, including both very acidic and very alkaline ones and in difficult urban conditions too. It will also grow well in soil that is periodically wet, but not so well in soil that is constantly wet. Once established it is very drought resistant, although watering during long dry spells is beneficial. It is moderately tolerant of salt spray, so it is also a good choice in coastal areas. It is almost completely resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. Common pests of elm, like leaf beetles and Japanese beetles, usually do not bother it.

Trimming

With its slender branches and small leaves, the Drake Chinese Elm is easily clipped into a rounded form for a more formal look, or into a hedge or screen. It tends naturally to develop several trunks, but it can be pruned to maintain a single trunk. For a more natural and graceful tree, remove smaller branches inside the crown as the tree grows, to maintain an open form, with well-spaced branches along the trunk. Pruning in this way shows off the elegant curves of the younger branches, and this will create a beautiful tree against the skyline.

History and Origins of the Drake Chinese Elm Tree

The Drake Chinese Elm is a selected form of the Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia). That tree grows, as the name suggests, in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and into India. Wild trees can be 60 feet tall and across, with a relatively slender trunk and a large crown. The leaves are small, between one and two inches long, and no more than an inch wide. They are a rich, lustrous green, with a row of soft ‘teeth’ along the margin. The tiny flowers are inconspicuous and rarely noticed. They are produced in fall, and by the summer of the next year you may see small pale-green, round seed pods, that might be mistaken for flowers. These later turn a soft brown color, but they are not produced in sufficient quantity to be a litter problem.

The Drake Chinese Elm first appeared in the catalogue of Monrovia Nursery, Azusa, California, in 1952. Monrovia had been founded in 1926 by a Danish immigrant, Harry Rosedale. He had an interest in creating new plants, so we can reasonably assume that the Drake Chinese Elm was developed at Monrovia, probably as a selected seedling. Rosedale noted its interesting form, which is described in the catalogue of the time as “sweeping branches, growing more upright than the regular form of Ulmus parvifolia”.

Although a tree grows at the Grange Farm Arboretum in Lincolnshire, England, the Drake Elm is normally only available commercially in the USA. It is important that this tree is grown from stem branches, as our trees are, and not from seed, as its special character will disappear in seedlings. Avoid cheaper seedling trees, which will not be as attractive or as interesting, and will not even be the Drake Chinese Elm. This interesting tree is widely recommended, and it might be called the ‘best tree nobody knows’. Because of revived interest in it, we do not expect our limited stock to be with us long, so order now and avoid disappointment.

The American Elm has a fast growth rate once established; between 3 and 5 feet a year of new growth once established. The tree has slower growth during the first few seasons. Planting location, watering schedules, fertilizer, sun exposure, soil conditions, and daily care may all affect the regular growth rate of the American Elm. After the tree has been successful for several seasons, its growth rate will likely increase significantly. Successfully rooted American Elms can grow voraciously.

The classic American Elm Tree has become a popular landscape tree throughout the United States. Charming shade and peace await you in the kind arms of the American Elm. With a spread of between 40 and 50 feet, there is plenty of room to rest. Remember that the shade of the American Elm will help to lower electricity costs. Less air conditioning is needed on a property where the shade of the American Elm covers both yard and home.

Growing American Elm Trees

Conservation of the American landscape is something most arborists can agree on. The use of the American Elm not only reduces electricity costs, but it also helps to proliferate a tree that for a time was feared lost. Dutch Elm Disease destroyed much of the natural population of American Elm, and it is now up to the landscapers and homeowners of the nation to build up the population again. Plant an American Elm and make a difference!

Care and Maintenance

The first few seasons of the American Elm’s growth require the most care. Once the tree has become established, it requires minimal assistance. Natural rainfall and sunlight can take care of the rest. Homeowners love the low-maintenance requirements of the American Elm. For a tree with such massive expectations, the American Elm’s beauty is actually in the details. Beautiful serrated leaves and jagged bark draw the eye in close. Sit underneath the elm and explore its crevices, crooks, and crannies with your eyes. This shade producing beauty is a fast-growing masterpiece.

The most important thing to remember if you choose to grow an American Elm is they are worth it. These beautiful shade trees will provide classic American ambience for little effort. Simply ensure adequate watering, sun exposure, and care during the first few seasons. Observe the tree for signs of diseased leaves or branches and once the tree is established, it will grow wonderfully!

Size

The American Elm reaches between 40 and 60 feet tall, though well-established American Elms have reached over 100 feet in height. Typically, the width of the mature Elm matches the heights, with averages ranging between 40 and 50 feet. The American Elm benefits both from initial growth at a reputable nursery, such as The Tree Center, and the proper planting you provide at home.

Planting Location

The American Elm can grow to be a large tree, so the first step is to find a suitable planting location. Find an area with no higher structures, like power lines or tall buildings, and preferably in full sun. Once you have found the appropriate location, the next step is to dig a hole. The hole should be between twice and three times as wide as the American Elm’s root ball. The hole should 1 inch less deep than the height of the root ball. Once the hole has been dug, simply hold the tree vertically in the hole and backfill with soil and water. If using mulch, apply afterward with a heavy watering.

Hardiness

American Elms grow well throughout most of the United States, and they are rated as hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9. They prefer moist, well-drained soil, but frequently settle for whatever is available. These adaptable trees are relatively unphased by pH or soil type.

Buying American Elms at The Tree Center

Be careful when searching for an American Elm tree! Not all American Elms will offer this height and fast-growth. Beware cheap nurseries, which try to sell bare-rooted or branch-cuttings. These will not develop into quality trees. These nurseries even try to cut costs by replacing the American Elm with poorer varieties. Do not be caught in a species’ trap that will replace the beautiful American Elm with a cheap substitute. The Tree Center remains your trusted stop for high quality, well-cared for American Elm saplings. The highly-trained staff provide the tender love and care that young saplings need to survive. Careful, constant monitoring is part of the package at The Tree Center.

A wide range of disease-resistant American Elms await you at The Tree Center. But act now! These popular fast-growing shade trees will quickly sell out. Our stock is always changing and our supplies are limited. So visit The Tree Center today to secure your American Elm.