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Ulmus americana var. floridana: Florida Elm1

Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson 2

Introduction

This native North American tree grows quickly when young, forming a broad or upright, vase-shaped silhouette, 60 to 80 feet high and wide. The six-inch-long, deciduous leaves are dark green throughout the year, fading to yellow before dropping in fall. In early spring, before the new leaves unfold, the rather inconspicuous, small, green flowers appear on pendulous stalks. These blooms are followed by green, wafer-like seedpods which mature soon after flowering is finished and the seeds are quite popular with both birds and wildlife. American elm must be at least 15-years-old before it will bear seed. The copious amount of seeds can create a mess on hard surfaces for a period of time. Trees have an extensive but shallow root system.

Figure 1. Young Ulmus americana var. floridana: Florida elm
Figure 1.  Young Ulmus americana var. floridana: Florida elm
Credit: Ed Gilman, UF/IFAS

General Information

Scientific name: Ulmus americana var. floridana
Pronunciation: UL-mus uh-mair-ih-KAY-nuh variety flor-ih-DAY-nuh
Common name(s): Florida elm
Family: Ulmaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 8A through 9B (Fig. 2)
Origin: native to North America
Invasive potential: little invasive potential
Uses: sidewalk cutout (tree pit); parking lot island > 200 sq ft; reclamation; street without sidewalk; tree lawn > 6 ft wide; shade; urban tolerant; highway median
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree

Figure 2. Range
Figure 2.  Range

Description

Height: 60 to 80 feet
Spread: 50 to 60 feet
Crown uniformity: symmetrical
Crown shape: vase, upright/erect
Crown density: moderate
Growth rate: fast
Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate (Fig. 3)
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: double serrate
Leaf shape: oblong, ovate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches, 4 to 8 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: yellow
Fall characteristic: not showy

Figure 3. Foliage
Figure 3.  Foliage

Flower

Flower color: green
Flower characteristics: not showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: round
Fruit length: less than .5 inch, .5 to 1 inch
Fruit covering: dry or hard
Fruit color: green
Fruit characteristics: attracts birds; not showy; fruit/leaves a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches don't droop; not showy; typically one trunk; thorns
Pruning requirement: needed for strong structure
Breakage: susceptible to breakage
Current year twig color: brown
Current year twig thickness: thin
Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun, partial sun, or partial shade
Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; alkaline; acidic; extended flooding; well-drained
Drought tolerance: moderate
Aerosol salt tolerance: moderate

Other

Roots: not a problem
Winter interest: no
Outstanding tree: no
Ozone sensitivity: unknown
Verticillium wilt susceptibility: susceptible
Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases

Use and Management

Once a very popular and long-lived shade and street tree, American elm suffered, and is currently suffering, a dramatic decline in most areas in the north with the introduction of Dutch elm disease, a fungus spread by a bark beetle. The wood of American elm is very hard and was a valuable timber tree used for lumber, furniture and veneer. The Indians once made canoes out of American elm trunks, and early settlers would steam the wood so it could be bent to make barrels and wheel hoops. It was also used for the rockers on rocking chairs. Today, the wood that can be found is used mainly for making furniture.

American elm should be grown in full sun on well-drained, rich soil. If you plant American elm, plan on implementing a monitoring program to watch for symptoms of Dutch elm disease. It is vital to the health of existing trees that a program be in place to administer special care to these disease-sensitive trees.

Propagation is by seed or cuttings. Young plants transplant easily.

Pests

Many pests may infest elm, including bark beetles, elm borer, gypsy moth, mites, and scales.

Diseases

Many diseases may infect elm, including Dutch elm disease, phloem necrosis, leaf spot diseases, and cankers.

Footnotes

1. This document is ENH-807, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 1993. Revised December 2006. Reviewed February 2014. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; and Dennis G. Watson, former associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Publication #ENH-807

Release Date:April 28, 2015

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Part of Southern Trees Fact Sheets

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