The tree, Ulmus Americana, is Indigenous to the North American region, more commonly known as the American elm. The elm tree is currently the official state tree of Massachusetts and has remained the state tree of North Dakota since 1947. These trees have a life expectancy of one-hundred-fifty years and rapidly grow when young, reaching heights up to eighty to one hundred feet and spanning from sixty to one-hundred-twenty feet in overall width.
The Appearance Of The Elm Tree
Because of its vase-shaped form and arching widespread branch structure, the tree would likely flourish best in a spacious environment to compensate for its maturation process. Like most deciduous trees, the tree sheds its yellowish-brown leaves in autumn, preparing for dormancy as winter soon approaches, but on the more sweltering days of summer, this tree is able to cast an immense amount of shade.
The Elm Tree Has Unique Bark
The wood from the elm tree is lightly colored and durable with interlocked grain; it is used for wooden crates and furniture parts, amongst various other items. The grayish-brown external bark displays a ridged surface—the oblong, oval-shaped leaves on an American elm perpetually alternate in their assortment. The dense leaves possess a sharp point with double-toothed margins and radiate with a bold green color.
Qualities Of The Elm Tree
Another desirable quality is its ability to thrive in many soil types, moisture levels, and weather conditions. The preferred soil is a slightly moist, rich loam containing clay and sand, but it can also thrive moderately in poorly drained soils. It has been known to withstand temperatures as low as forty-four degrees below zero in the winter.
Currently, there are hybrid elm trees in development being spliced with its foreign variants to prevent the potential of any adverse effects the presence of this awe-inspiring tree could have residentially.