Considered by many to be the premier landscape and shade tree in North America, the nation’s native Elm populations were decimated by the introduction of Dutch Elm Disease in the 1920s. Many towns and cities in America had Elms that were over 100 years old and formed the backbone of the urban landscape. With its rapid growth of up to 8 feet per year and ability to form interlocking arches over wide streets, American Elms were the backbone of many of America’s landscapes.
Many cities, particularly in the Midwest, lost 90% of their landscape and city street trees as this species was so widely planted. A few years back it was discovered that the American Elms acquired from Princeton Nursery in Princeton, New Jersey, had not succumbed to D.E.D. It appears this cultivar has some small genetic variation which allows the tree to tolerate Dutch Elm Disease with no adverse effects. Home & Garden Landscapes utilizes the Princeton cultivar of American Elm whenever possible and has a great selection of 18 + foot Elms. Attesting to its rapid growth, Elms planted at the Orange County, North Carolina courthouse had in 8 years grown from an initial height of 18 feet to over 40 feet with a corresponding spread of 30 feet! Here’s an example of a recent Princeton American Elm installation.