Elm tree wood tends to be strong, durable, and resistant to weather and rot, even when submerged in water for long periods. Because of those characteristics, elm has long been used to make ship keels, piers, archery bows, and furniture. Read on to learn how to identify and grow 10 types of elm trees.

Elm Tree Identification

Elm trees look like the common shade trees you may have seen lining streets in many American cities and towns; they are tall with large spreading canopies. Elm tree leaves are typically oval with serrated edges. The leaves are arranged alternately on the branches. Some species have leaves with a rough side, others have leaves that are velvety on both sides, and most (but not all) elm tree bark is rough. Most species produce flowers that develop into fruiting bodies, called samaras, each containing one seed. Unlike the familiar helicopter samaras produced by maple trees, those from elm trees are circular or oval. There are now several cultivars of the American elm resistant to Dutch elm disease, such as ‘Valley Forge’, ‘Princeton’, ‘Prairie Expedition’, ‘New Harmony’, and ‘St. Croix’. Despite the well-publicized problems with DED, not all elms are susceptible to the disease.

Native Area: Eastern North AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9Height: 60 to 90 feetSun Exposure: Full

Native Area: United KingdomUSDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7Height: 15 to 25 feetSun Exposure: Full

Native Area: Southern North AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9Height: 50 to 70 feetSun Exposure: Part to full

Native Area: Eastern Asia, HimalayasUSDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Height: 60 to 80 feetSun Exposure: Full

Native Area: China, Japan, North Korea, VietnamUSDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Height: 40 to 50 feetSun Exposure: Full

Native Area: China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, SiberiaUSDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8 (depending on variety)Height: 30 to 50 feetSun Exposure: Full

Native Area: Western and southern Europe, BritainUSDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Height: 130 feet or moreSun Exposure: Full to partial shade

weisschr / Getty Images

Native Area: Central and Eastern EuropeUSDA ​Growing Zones: 5 to 9Height: 100 feet or moreSun Exposure: Full to dappled shade

Native Area: Eastern Siberia, Korea, Tibet, India, Mongolia, northern ChinaUSDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9 Height: 50 to 70 feetSun Exposure: Full

Native Area: Central and Eastern U.S. and southern OntarioUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Height: 40 to 60 feetSun Exposure: Full