Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Tree Elm By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 1, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Elm Overview Description The mighty American elm with its distinctive vase shape and strong branches earns the popular vote as the perfect tree. While the wild form is dying out from Dutch elm disease, a host of new selections are being released that show improved resistance to this disease. New varieties of Chinese, or lacebark, elm combine the best of the American elm's graceful shape with lacy foliage and showy bark. Cultivars of the Siberian elm survive the rigorous conditions of the Plains and Mountain states. Genus Name Ulmus Common Name Elm Plant Type Tree Light Sun Height 20 to 20 feet Width null to 50 feet Season Features Colorful Fall Foliage, Winter Interest Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Stem Cuttings Problem Solvers Drought Tolerant, Slope/Erosion Control More varieties for Elm American elm (Ulmus americana) is a stately tree with golden fall color. It can reach more than 100 feet tall and wide. Zones 3-9 more ideas to improve your landscape More Videos » Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit