American Elm Princeton
Ulmus americana 'Princeton'
A majestic shade tree that brings back the classic American elm's iconic vase-shaped silhouette with improved disease resistance to Dutch elm disease. Princeton elm combines the stately presence that once lined America's streets with modern disease tolerance, making it perfect for large properties seeking a timeless, elegant canopy tree.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–9
USDA hardiness
Height
60-80 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for American Elm Princeton in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 ornamental-tree →Zone Map
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American Elm Princeton · Zones 3–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet, Very Dry. Water: ULM-us a-mer-ih-KAY-nah. Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Creole Queen' 'Deleware #2'Disease resistent, vigorous grower. 'Jefferson'Disease resistant, 50 feet and vase-shaped. LibertyNot as disease resistant as some others, comprised of more than one clone. New HarmonyUpright, 70 feet tall and wide, not as disease resistant as some others. 'Princeton'Vase-shaped, good disease resistance, 70 feet high by 50 feet wide. 'Princeton' 'Valley Forge'Classic Elm tree form, best dutch elm disease resistance., 'Creole Queen', 'Deleware #2', 'Jefferson', Liberty, New Harmony, 'Princeton', 'Princeton', 'Valley Forge'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The flowers give way to single-seeded wafer-like samaras (each tiny seed is surrounded by a flattened oval-rounded papery wing). The seeds are clustered on long stems and mature in April-May as the leaves reach full size. In North Carolina, fruits are available from March to April.
Type: Samara.
Harvest time: Spring
Bloom time: Winter
History & Origin
Origin: Eastern North America
Advantages
- +Attracts: Butterflies, Pollinators, Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Virginia Bluebells
Thrives in partial shade under elm canopy, adds spring color before elm leafs out
Wild Ginger
Excellent groundcover for elm's root zone, tolerates shade and helps retain soil moisture
Coral Bells
Shallow roots don't compete with elm, provides colorful foliage in understory
Astilbe
Enjoys filtered shade from elm canopy, adds feathery texture and summer blooms
Hosta
Thrives in elm's shade, large leaves complement elm's fine texture
Ferns
Natural woodland companions, help create forest-like ecosystem under elm
Serviceberry
Compatible native understory tree, provides wildlife food and spring flowers
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that can stress or damage elm trees
Eastern Red Cedar
Can harbor rust diseases that may spread to elm foliage
Boxelder
Competes aggressively for nutrients and can host pests that affect elms
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to Dutch elm disease, elm leaf beetle tolerance
Common Pests
Elm leaf beetle, scale insects, aphids
Diseases
Dutch elm disease (resistant), elm yellows, leaf spot