American Elm

Availability: Out of stock
SKU
431

Elegant, Vase-Shaped Shade Tree American Elm

  • Excellent Form
  • Native Tree that Grows Quickly
  • Wildlife Tree Provides Nests for Baltimore Orioles and Other Songbirds
  • Adapts to Both Wet and Dry Sites
  • Beautifully Tolerant of Urban Conditions
  • All Shipments Protected with Plant Sentry

American Elm (Ulmus americana) is a commanding deciduous tree with a beautiful shape. It's such an impressive shade tree with a strong vase-shape, that eventually matures into a lovely, rounded oval crown.

Nature Hills uses Plant Sentry, which is an online database that blocks shipments in and out of restricted areas. We follow all federal, state and local regulations to keep you and your communities safe.

American Elm tree is gorgeous legacy to leave to the future. It's well worth the fight to return to this majestic and useful tree for your community, in the proper areas.

How to Use American Elm Tree in the Landscape

The American Elm was one of the most popular shade trees used in cities and home landscapes throughout America, for over 300 years. This stately, perfectly-formed tree has been a picturesque part of the North American landscape.

Can you imagine how many children and grandchildren have played underneath wonderful Elm trees?

American Elm provides ornamental interest for every season. The six-inch deciduous leaves are highly textured and have cute, toothed edges. Their dark green color is a vibrant addition to summer surroundings.

Small reddish-green flowers form in spring, and although you're not likely to notice them, butterflies and other pollinators of your yard certainly will. Invite these "flying flowers" to your yard to add enormous appeal. Birds such as Baltimore Oriole prefer nesting in American Elm.

The American Elm is best used as a specimen shade tree in large areas. It's wise to plant street trees at least 20 feet apart (measuring from trunk to trunk) to give each root system plenty of room to develop as an individual tree. If you are interested in learning more about large tree root systems, click here for our blog!

In the fall, American Elm changes to a pleasing, mellow yellow shade for autumn. They conveniently drop all their leaves in a short amount of time. This makes for an "easy fall cleanup", which is a nice feature you'll appreciate as you prepare your yard for winter.

This Elm shines, even in winter. Even during the cold season, the dark grey and deeply textured bark of American Elm gives you something interesting to look at in the winter landscape.

#ProPlantTips for Care

American Elms will grow to varied sizes and shapes from vase-shaped to oval canopies. In the hotter climates, like Florida, the American Elm grows less than 30 feet tall.

Don't crowd this tree. You should allow plenty of space for the American Elm to receive maximum sunlight and air flow through the canopy.

Though tolerant of short periods of drought once established, the tree prefers good drainage, yet adapts to both dry and wet locations quite well. American Elm is adaptable to many different soil types and climates.

Watch to see if your soil holds puddles after a rain. If it does, plan to create a raised mound 18 inches above the original soil line. You'll plant directly in that mound, which should improve the drainage.

In extreme summer temperature zones, add a thick layer of mulch all around the tree. Don't allow mulch to touch the trunk of the tree. Mulch over the root system will keep things cool, when extreme summer temperatures are the norm.

Don't prune your tree from April to August. Instead, wait until the dormant season to do any required pruning.

American Elm are hardy trees that are tolerant of short periods of drought and urban conditions. It won't cost you a lot of time or effort to maintain and will provide many years of shade and beauty for your yard.

American Elm is a native treasure. Order today!

Buying Options for Plants

Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.

Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!

Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.

  • Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc.
  • Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc.

Nature Hills Container Size by Volume

Keep in mind, specific varieties and different growing conditions can affect the rate at which plants grow. Variations in size may occur.

Young Plants to 18 Months
Size Volume
2"x2"x3" Ranges from .18 to .21 dry quarts / .198 to .23 dry liters in volume
4.5" Container Equal to .65 dry quart / .72 dry liter in volume
Sprinter Pot Equal to .63 dry quart / .69 dry liter in volume
4" Container Ranges from .31 to .87 / .35 to .96 dry liter in volume
6" Container Equal to 1.4 dry quarts / 1.59 dry liters in volume
1 Quart Equal to 1 dry quart / 1.1 dry liter in volume
5.5" Container Equal to 1.89 of a dry quart / 2.08 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x5" Ranges from .8 to 1.1 dry quarts / .88 to 1.2 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x6" Ranges from 1.0 to 1.3 dry quarts / 1.1 to 1.41 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x9" Ranges from 1.1 to 2.1 dry quarts / 1.2 to 2.3 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x10" Ranges from 1.7 to 2.3 dry quart / 1.87 to 2.53 dry liters in volume
Plants 18 Months - 2.5 Years Old
Size Volume
2 Quart Equal to 2 dry quarts / 2.2 dry liters in volume
#1 Container Ranges from 2.26 to 3.73 dry quarts / 2.49 to 4.11 dry liters in volume
5"x5"x12" Equal to 3.5 to 4.3 dry quarts / 3.85 to 4.74 dry liters in volume
Plants 2 - 4 Years Old
Size Volume
#2 Container Ranges from 1.19 to 1.76 dry gallons / 5.24 to 7.75 dry liters in volume
#3 Container Ranges from 2.32 to 2.76 dry gallons / 10.22 to 12.16 dry liters in volume
Plants 3 - 5 Years Old
Size Volume
#5 Container Ranges from 2.92 to 4.62 dry gallons / 12.86 to 20.35 dry liters in volume
#6 Container Ranges from 5.25 to 6.01 dry gallons / 23.12 to 26.42 dry liters in volume
#7 Container Ranges from 5.98 to 6.08 dry gallons / 26.34 to 26.78 dry liters in volume

About Plant Sentry™

Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.

This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

Click Here to learn more

Plant Sentry

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.
Color Zone Times
3 Spring 2019
4 Now
5 Now
6 Now
7 Now
8 Now
9 Now
10 Now
11 Now

Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From To S&H
0 - 19.99 24.99
20 - 49.99 29.99
50 - 69.99 34.99
70 - 99.99 39.99
100 - 129.99 44.99
130 - 149.99 48.99
150 - 150+ Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

PLANT HIGHLIGHTS

American Elm Is Suited to Grow in Zones 2-9
Growing Zones 2-9
More Information
Brand Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name Ulmus americana
Mature Height 75 - 100 feet
Mature Spread 60 - 90 feet
Sun Exposure Full Sun
Soil Widely Adaptable
Growth Rate Fast
Flower Color Green
Foliage Green
Fall Color Yellow
Pollinator Friendly Yes