Ulmus americana (Family Ulmaceae)

The basics 

American elm is a tall, fast-growing deciduous tree with a graceful, spreading canopy. It is native to eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Canada to Florida and west to the Great Plains. American elm is sometimes called ‘white elm,’ ‘gray elm,’ ‘water elm,’ or ‘soft elm.’ Its 3-6 inch leaves are oval shaped with doubly serrated edges (or “margins”) and hairs on the upper surface; this last feature is important, as it helps distinguish American elm from slippery elm (U. rubra), whose leaves are hairy on both sides. American elm was once the most iconic street tree in the USA, admired for its elegant vase-like shape, sweeping branches, and deep green leaves. Since the 1960s, its numbers have sharply declined due to Dutch Elm Disease, a lethal condition caused by an exotic fungus. The spread of the disease led to the loss of millions of American elms, and urban tree canopies especially were hard hit. However, disease resistant cultivars are now available and the species is making a comeback.