A guide for the aspiring dendrophile—or homeowner—seeking guidance
Elm tree leaves are oval-shaped with serrated edges, plus they often alternate on branches instead of growing directly across from one another.
Younger elm trees may have smoother bark, but older trees are dark in tone and have deep ridges.
Some types of elms have flowers with white petals, while others may have no petals but present as a pink inflorescence.
Elm tree seeds are flat and ovular, with a paper-thin border.
When elms change color in the fall, it’s usually bright yellow in color.
If you’re wondering, “What does an elm tree look like?” you’re in the right place. Tree lovers delight in knowing how to identify elm trees, but knowing how to spot these trees is also important to homeowners. Full-grown elms are a striking sight with gnarled branches and fall leaves, plus they offer shade and cooling in your yard.
Identifying elm trees in your yard is handy, as these shade trees come with pros and cons. Use this DIY guide to identify elm trees and leaves near your home.
Towering 80 to 100 feet when fully matured, a full-grown elm tree is something to be observed. They are deciduous trees, meaning they sprout leaves in the spring, and those leaves fall off when cold weather rolls in.
Elm trees can live 300 to 400 years when taken care of, so removing one from your yard could mean getting rid of a piece of history. Here are some characteristics to look for when conducting elm tree identification.
When it comes to elm identification or tree planting, the easiest way to categorize them is to know what elm trees look like, including their bark.
The three most common elm tree types found in North America are:
American Elm Trees (Ulmus Americana): The American elm tree has gray-brown bark with deep cuts. Its oval leaves and deep veins measure up to 5 inches long.
Chinese Elm Trees (Ulmus Parvifolia): Chinese elm trees have colored bark with similar textures to the American elm tree. If removed, you may find a light yellow or white color underneath. These trees may appear in olive or light brown colors, too. The leaves have a shinier appearance and are more egg-shaped than the leaves of American elms.
Bosque Elm Trees (Ulmus Parvifolia Bosque): Bosque elm trees have brown bark with thinner grooves. This subspecies turns gorgeous shades of orange or yellow in the fall. The oval-shaped leaves are pointier and glossy, similar to the Chinese elm.
Other elm trees found in North America in smaller quantities include the Siberian elm, rock elm tree, cedar elm tree, red elm, and slippery elm tree. For example, red elm trees have, as you may have guessed, slightly redder bark than American and Chinese elms.
Elm trees of all types are known for their oval- or egg-shaped leaves with jagged edges all the way to the tip. The leaves average about 5 inches in length; leaves on younger trees may be between 3 and 5 inches.
If you think you have an elm tree in your yard, pull up an image of elm tree leaves or bark on your phone and compare.
Dark brown with a hint of gray is the best way to characterize American elm tree bark. It’s hard to compare the texture to other tree bark, as it’s more rugged and has deeper cuts and fissures. To the touch, elm tree bark feels spongy yet firm. The deep ridges along the bark also give it a distinctive look.
Take a close look at the bark on the tree you’re unsure of, look for the above traits, and you may be able to identify elm tree bark.
There are many types of elm trees across the world, with characteristics that make them distinguishable from other tree species on the block. Look for these types of elm trees in your yard:
American elm: This classic elm is a tall shade tree with a vase-shaped canopy spread of 40 to 75 feet. It has long, oval, and serrated leaves.
Cedar elm: This type of elm is susceptible to Dutch elm disease and typically grows in hot climates in the Southern U.S.
Chinese elm: This type of elm has a rounded shape and adapts to many varieties of soil, but prefers well-drained conditions. It’s native to China, Japan, North Korea, and Vietnam.
English elm: These fast-growing elms have a canopy spread of about 40 feet, and they can grow to 130 feet tall.
Slippery elm: This type of elm isn’t recommended for residential yards because it’s susceptible to Dutch elm disease.
Cherry-bark elm: This elm variety is large and bushy with a smooth bark. These trees can live up to 100 years.
Camperdown elm: Considered a weepy type of elm, this one has a flatter canopy, dangled branches, and thick foliage.
Elm trees aren’t “bad” by any means. But they live a long time and require some maintenance, so it’s good to know what you’re getting into if you have them in your yard (or if you’re getting ready to plant a tree in your yard).
Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks of elm trees.
Pros:
Elm trees provide shade and cooling for your yard and home, unlike Japanese maples and other trees that brighten your yard during the winter.
These trees have a striking, rustic appearance in the summer, adding natural beauty to your yard.
Their leaves change color and add a beautiful aesthetic to properties during the fall.
Elm trees are resilient trees that normally survive drought conditions.
Cons:
Elm trees are susceptible to Dutch elm disease, an invasive fungus that wilts branches and leaves, eventually killing the tree; it can also spread through roots to other trees in your yard.
Because elm trees have such thick bark, bark beetles and other pests like elm seed bugs are attracted to them.
Elm trees have complex root systems known to penetrate and obstruct sewer lines, which can lead to costly repairs.
Tree removal costs between $200 and $2,000, costing an average of $750. Hiring someone with tree removal process experience is usually recommended, especially in congested areas where an error could mean a tree will fall on your home, a car, or even a person.
Because elm trees tend to grow pretty tall, some tree removal contractors in your area may charge extra if they calculate their rate on a per-foot basis.
Keeping those old relics in your yard healthy and happy comes down to proper elm tree maintenance. Here are some tips for keeping your trees in tip-top shape:
Look Out for Dutch Elm Disease (DED): Elm trees were one of the most common trees in North America until the early 1900s when this fungal pathogen started wiping them out. Wilting, yellow leaves and softening bark or drooping branches are telltale signs that DED is affecting your trees. Treatment should begin immediately; fungal pesticides you inject right into the bark are available at outdoor stores for under $20.
Remove Dead Elm Trees: Dead or dying trees pose a threat to the safety of other elm trees in the area, as a sick tree is more likely to become diseased and spread the pathogen to healthy trees. The only way to remove an elm tree is to remove it up and out of the ground, roots and all. Removing an elm stump can be hard work, so you may consider hiring a local stump removal pro who can safely get the job done.
Treat Sick Elm Trees: Once DED affects an elm tree, all you can do is prune the branches and work to keep it from spreading. There’s no way to reverse the disease, sadly. Another telltale sign of a sick elm tree—and most trees in general—is that they start shedding leaves before fall, in the middle to late summer.
Tree removal of any type can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Because elm trees can grow tall, hiring a professional tree-cutting service is recommended if you’re uncomfortable climbing a ladder or working with a chainsaw. On the other hand, if you need assistance planting a new elm tree, hire a local tree planting service to get the job done safely and efficiently.
If you identify an elm tree and realize it’s sick, a tree service company can guide you on which products to use to treat the bark or sap. Hire a professional for a consultation if you’re unsure because the wrong approach could kill your elm trees and put nearby trees at risk.
If shade is a priority for you, then panting elm trees is a fine choice. A full mature elm tree has enough aesthetic appeal for some folks that it could add value to your home.
That said, never plant elm trees too close to your home, sewer line, or sidewalks, as their roots can damage these, which can lead to costly repairs.
Compared to certain types of firewood like pine or spruce—which burn off sticky resin contained within the wood that creates lots of smoke—elm isn’t the worst option for burning in a fireplace.
Because elm wood is dense, it burns at a moderate pace and does a pretty good job of keeping your home warm. Hardwood like maple or oak may perform slightly better, but elm isn’t a bad choice overall.
It’s not as common for Dutch elm disease to affect other types of trees, especially if the surrounding trees aren’t elms. However, it is possible for DED to spread to other trees, particularly in northern states, like Minnesota. In fact, it’s a good idea to use geography to identify wood and determine which types of trees are in your yard.
Unfortunately, the complex and shallow root system of elm trees makes surrounding elm trees particularly vulnerable to DED. Early discovery is key!
