American Elm

American Elm is the most popular of urban shade trees. This tree was planted along downtown city streets for decades. Newer, hardier varieties have been developed that are more resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.  It grows 50-70′ tall, the leaves are dark green, 6″ long, and have toothed margins. The trees can live several hundred years.Seed, buds, and tender young twigs are used as food by birds and mammals, particularly deer.  The wood is used in fine furniture, boxes, barrels, and crates. It is good for firewood, but hard to split.  Extracts of some Ulmus species have been used as a demulcent, an astringent, a diuretic, and for inflammation, burns, cold sores and wound treatments.