NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Ulmus americana

American Elm, White Elm

Scientific Name:	Ulmus americana
Genus:	Ulmus
Species Epithet:	americana
Common Name:	American Elm, White Elm
Plant Type	Tree
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Ulmaceae (Elm Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	0-1 ft., 1-3 ft., 3-6 ft., 6-12 ft., 12-36 ft., 36-72 ft., 72-100 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	Red, Green
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	Jan, Feb, March
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	2 varieties in NC: Ulmus americana var. americana - Swamps, bottomland forests, moist slopes, especially on relatively or strongly nutrient-rich substrates. Common throughout NC. Global Rank: G5TNR Ulmus americana var. floridana - Florida Elm, Shell middens, other calcareous forests. Uncommon in the NC Coastal Plain. Global Rank: G5TNR
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Important for Wildlife
Landscape Value:	Recommended and Available
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G_T_: Subspecies or Variety Rank (add status to NOTES section) ^(*Key)
Notes:	Used widely as street trees - takes several forms including vase-shaped. Larval Host: Mourning Cloak, Columbia silkmoth, Question Mark butterfly, Painted Lady butterfly, Comma butterfly.
Specimen tree of America Elm Decimated by the Dutch Elm disease in the mid 1900s, American Elms are nonetheless common in North Carolina. "In our area, the effects of the disease appear to have been mild or nonexistent, especially in natural areas." (Weakley Flora) American Elm grows in swamps, bottomland forests, and open wet areas with rich soil. Charley Winterbauer, Wilmington, May 2011
Leaves The leaves have an uneven base, toothed margins and come to a short point. Charley Winterbauer
Bark Charley Winterbauer
Leaves have asymmetric bases, parallel venation, and serrated margins. Orange Co., NC Bettina Darveaux
Bark is spongy, and has strong crisscrossing ridges. Orange Co., NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Flora of North America NC State Extension