AMERICAN ELM

Native to Georgia

Scientific name: Ulmus americana

Family: Ulmaceae

Native Americans used American Elms as "council trees," marking gathering places for tribes. 

  • The inner bark was a source of food and medicine, used for making flour and treating various ailments. 

  • Elms were also valued for their wood, which was used for making canoes, tools, and other items. 

  • boasts a rich history, deeply intertwined with the development of North America. Once a ubiquitous tree lining streets and gracing landscapes, it held significant cultural and practical value for both Native Americans and European settlers. However, the introduction of Dutch Elm disease in the 20th century drastically reduced its population, though efforts to restore the species are ongoing. 

  • American Elms were planted near homes, symbolizing family values and prosperity.

Serated edges and delineated veiling on the leaves. The leaves come in various sizes depending on the environment it is located.

Notice how leaves are in an alternating patterned growth on the stem and will help to identify the species. The branches seem to weep downward for a graceful characteristic.

Bright yellow color in the Fall.

Pollinating “Catkins”