American Elm is a deciduous, hardy, native tree of North America. It grows to about 75 ft. with long upward sweeping branches and smaller pendent branches forming the classic "vase" shape. The trunk is a light grey color with fissured bark. Foliage consists of small alternate toothed leaves. It is a graceful and impressive tree and has become rare due to Dutch Elm Disease which is a fungus that has destroyed many elms in the Eastern United States.

American Elm has many insect diseases too. Elms must be protected against insects such as elm bark bettle which can carry the Dutch Elm disease. Other insects can do much damage to Elms which can make the trees vulnerable to the Dutch Elm Disease. Pests such as cankerworm, elm leaf beetle, grubs, Japanese beetle, tustock moth, gypsy moth, spiny elm caterpillar, webworm and bagworm, scurfy scale, European elm scale and apple and elm aphids all must be controlled or eliminated to insure a chance that the elm tree will survive. Because such a tree is rare, it makes sense to monitor it closely and to keep in touch with your local nurseryman to take immediate and appropriate action against any kind of pest that may attack the elm. American Elm is winter hardy in Zones 3-9.