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Ulmus americana
'Princeton', American Elm

American Elm should be grown in full sun on well-drained, rich soil. If you plant American Elm, plan on implementing a monitoring program to watch for symptoms of Dutch elm disease. It is vital to the health of existing trees that a program be in place to administer special care to these disease-sensitive trees. Some selections, for example `Princeton', are resistant to the Dutch Elm Disease and elm leaf beetle. Plants grow extremely fast requiring regular and frequent pruning to maintain a strong structure. 'Princeton' should be rooted, not grafted.

'Princeton' is an older cultivar with an extremely rapid growth rate. It was propagated in 1922 and planted along Washington Ave at the entrance to Princeton University in New Jersey. These trees are now about 60 feet tall and have endured many stresses. It tolerates Dutch elm disease well and has the nice classic American elm shape. It may have the best form of all the Ulmus americana cultivars.

In areas such as Texas and Florida where elm populations are less than in northern climates, Dutch elm disease is not likely to be as big a problem as in regions with more elms.

Trees compartmentalize decay well. The wood is considered ring porous which means that there is a large difference in size between the spring wood pores and the summer wood pores. Elms are susceptible to breakage in storms due to frequent formation of included bark in the crotches of main scaffold limbs. Follow the pruning guidelines below carefully and faithfully. Elms are among those susceptible to summer branch drop according to surveys in California. Summer branch drop is a phenomena resulting in failure and breakage of large diameter, live branches typically on calm summer days. All elms reportedly produce allergenic pollen.