Elm Trees In Houston

1. American Elm
•Other Common Names: Water elm, swamp elm, Florida elm, soft elm, white elm, gray elm
•Native to: Eastern North America
•USDA Zones: 2-9
•Height: 60-90' tall

The American elm has made a comeback over the years as they developed varietys that withstand Dutch elm disease.
The American elm is the state tree of Massachusetts and North Dakota.

2. Camperdown Elm
•Other Common Names: Weeping elm, umbrella elm
•Native to: United Kingdom
•USDA Zones: 4-8
•Height: 10-30' tall

The Camperdown elm is a weeping variety of the Wych elm. It requires propagation by grafting. There was a specimen at the xeriscape demonstration garden where I worked.

3. Cedar Elm
•Other Common Names: Basket elm, southern rock elm, Texas cedar elm, lime elm, scrub elm
•Native to: Southern North America
•USDA Zones: 6-9
•Height: 20-90' tall

The cedar elm can be grown in urban areas as it is able to persist in conditions like pollution, and poor soil.

4. Cherry-Bark Elm
•Other Common Names: Marn elm, cherry elm, Small-Leaved Himalayan elm
•Native to: Indian subcontinent
•USDA Zones: To Zone 5
•Height: 60-120' tall

The cherry-bark elm can live for hundreds of years. The trunk features many lenticels.

5. Chinese Elm
•Other Common Names: Drake elm, lacebark elm
•Native to: China, Japan, North Korea and Vietnam
•USDA Zones: 4-9
•Height: 40-50' tall

The Chinese elm can be used as a substitute for the American elm by those in the United States in the quest to overcome Dutch elm disease. It shares the same vase shape and features flaking bark that comes in brown, gray, green and orange.

Since the Chinese elm is able to grow if pruned back heavily, it is a common choice for bonsai.