Do You Have Elms

Elms are easily recognized. American elms have tall straight trunks. Branches start high and grow upward to form an arching shape like a vase or umbrella.

The bark of an elm is thick and rough, usually dark grey to greyish brown and made up of broad intersecting ridges.

Elm bark

The leaves are dark green, up to 9 centimetres (3.5 inches) long and 2.5-5 cm (1-2 inches) wide with double-toothed edges. The underside of the leaf is rough because of raised veins. The two leaf lobes next to the leafstalk are unequally rounded.

Elm leaves

Go to the Alberta Dutch Elm Disease Prevention page for more information about prevention efforts in the province.

Other Documents in the Series

Do You Have Elms - Current Document
Firewood Can be DED-ly
Dutch Elm Disease Cycle
Signs and Symptoms of Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch Elm Disease Sampling Procedures
Dutch Elm Disease: Signs of Beetle Activity

For more information about the content of this document, contact Shelley Barkley.
This information published to the web on June 14, 2001.
Last Reviewed/Revised on November 30, 2007.