American elm

The American elm (Ulmus americana) is the largest species of elm native to North America, with a mature height of 80-100 ft. It has beautiful soft yellow to golden fall color and a magnificent, spreading shape. It is native from southeastern Saskatchewan all the way to the east coast, and south nearly to Georgia and Florida. It has been extensively planted in parks, along boulevards, farms, acreages, and many city streets. It is also the species that has been most devastated by DED.

American elms have large, shallow root systems and although they do best in moist, fertile soil they are also exceptionally drought tolerant. In addition to DED, they are also prone to a number of bacterial infections, aphids, and cankerworms. High winds and storms can cause breakage due to the great weight of the branches, and fallen elms can cause immense damage.

A few cultivars have been developed, but it is largely just the species that is grown. ‘Brandon’ is a somewhat more compact selection (maturing at 40 ft.) that came from Manitoba many years ago. ‘Valley Forge’ was released in 1995 and has excellent resistance to DED. It is important to remember that there are no kinds of American elm that are immune to DED; but several are much less likely to be infected by it. ‘Lewis & Clark’ was released by the University of North Dakota in 2004. It was selected from the only elm left standing after a severe outbreak of the disease over 50 years ago.

‘St. Croix’ was selected by the University of Minnesota after the same outbreak. This elm was found in the Minneapolis neighborhood of St. Croix. Nearly every elm in the city was dead but for this one, century old specimen in this elderly area of town. It was subsequently named and introduced and has done very well in trials across the continent.

Assuming that they are not taken down by disease, American elm trees are exceptionally long lived. Their lifespan is about 200-250 years, but under exceptional growing conditions, they are known to live even longer. Prior to Dutch Elm Disease, elms that were 300 or 400 years old were not that uncommon.

The first elms worth mentioning in Saskatoon are the memorial elms of the Woodlawn Cemetery (NW of Warman Road and 33^rd St. East.) The first elms were planted in 1923 and today, there are over a thousand elm trees to be found here. Originally, the Next-of-Kin Memorial Avenue elms were planted to honor the families of those who had lost loved ones in the First World War. More have been planted since, honoring those who have served in other wars as well. Due to their longevity and beauty, elms were frequent choices for war memorials and monuments such as these were put in place all across the country. After the devastation of Dutch Elm Disease, the vast majority of these monuments were wiped out. This elm avenue is the last remaining memorial of its kind in all of Canada! For this reason, the Woodlawn Cemetery was named a national historic site in 1993.

The three largest elms in Saskatoon are all estimated to be about a century old. The first can be found growing at the 200 block Poplar Crescent. The second can be found in the back yard of a private home on the 800 block of Avenue D North. It is easily seen from the street, towering above the house. The third, and believed to be the largest elm specimen on city property, is found on the 700 block of Temperance St.

The largest tree in Red Deer, Alberta is worth visiting. An American elm planted in the late 1930’s, it can be found on the 5600 block of 47A Avenue. It takes three adults to circle around the trunk! Calgary is not the ideal climate for American elms, as they are not fond of Chinook winds and often do not adapt to the climate as well as poplars and willows and maples do. However, there are certainly large and healthy elm trees in Calgary and there are many places in the older parts of the city where there are elm lined streets and boulevards and they are doing just fine.

One of the largest and best known trees in the city is the “stampede elm”, just adjacent to the stampede grounds. If you are looking for it, it can be found on the edge of the parking lot between Olympic Way and 12^th and 13^th Ave SE. Who planted the tree remains unknown, but we do know it was saved because of the efforts of Calgary gardener Rick Van Gelder, a tree advocate who recognized its immense girth, size, and health as making it eminently worth saving!

The most beautiful elm tree on the prairies just might be “St. Joseph’s Elm”, found growing in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The tree is believed to have been planted in the early 1900’s, with 1906 being the most likely date. Who planted it remains a mystery. What is more mysterious and more remarkable is the tree’s growth habit; it is just over 60 ft. tall and the canopy, which is very low spreading, is over 100 ft. wide! It is in perfect health and was originally planted at the site of St. Joseph’s Church and hospital, which is now a retirement home. The tree grows in the “station park”, and is surrounded by the beautiful brick artwork of Medicine Hat artist James Marshall, which depicts the trial and crucifixtion of Christ. If you’d like to visit St. Joseph’s elm, you will find it at 156-3^rd St. Northeast in Medicine Hat.