American Elm

Ulmus americana

Strong

Native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

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Height: 60–80 feet
Spread: 30–60 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

Space about 30 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

Ulmus americana — leaf photograph — Nathan Howell; Howell, Krings and Braham (2016) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

Dutch elm disease. Dutch elm disease affects this elm; in our area its effects vary, with less impact southward and in natural stands than in towns. Plant caution source

At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: Early spring
Fruiting season: Spring

Recorded in 19 West Virginia counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 137 animals.

Acadian Flycatcher
Empidonax virescens
Birds. 3 shared habitats
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
Birds. 3 shared habitats
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Birds. 3 shared habitats
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black-and-White Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Blue Grosbeak
Passerina caerulea
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Eastern Screech-owl
Megascops asio
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Eurasian Collared-dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Birds. 3 shared habitats

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

180CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Ulmus

Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
Polygonia interrogationisQuestion Mark
Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
Acronicta griseaGray Dagger
Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger

Show all 180

Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger
Acronicta morulaOchre Dagger
Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Acronicta spinigeraNondescript Dagger
Acronicta vinnulaDelightful Dagger, Ashy Dagger
Actias lunaLuna Moth
Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Anarta trifoliiThe Nutmeg, Clover Cutworm
Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
Ancylosis undulatellaSugarbeet Crown Borer
Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
Automeris ioIo Moth
Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
Callima argenticinctellaOrange-Headed Epicallima
Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
Canarsia ulmiarrosorellaElm Leaftier Moth
Catocala clintoniiClinton's Underwing
Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
Ceratomia amyntorElm Sphinx
Charadra deridensThe Laugher
Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
Dasychira dorsipennataSharp-Lined Tussock Moth
Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
Epirrita autumnataThe Autumnal Moth, November Moth
Episimus argutanaSumac Leaftier
Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
Euchlaena marginariaOchre Euchlaena
Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
Euphyia intermediataSharp-Angled Carpet Moth, The Intermediate
Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
Eupsilia morrisoniMorrison's Sallow
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Euzophera semifuneralisAmerican Plum Borer
Grapholita prunivoraLesser Apple Worm
Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
Haploa reversaReversed Haploa
Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Hydrelia albiferaFragile White Carpet
Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
Hypena abalienalisWhite-Lined Bomolocha, White-Lined Snout
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
Hyperstrotia pervertensDotted Graylet
Hyperstrotia villificansWhite-Lined Graylet
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Hypoprepia fucosaPainted Lichen Moth
Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
Isa textulaCrowned Slug
Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
Lithophane dispositaGreen-Gray Pinion, Dashed Grey Pinion
Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
Lithophane laticinereaBroad Ashen Pinion, Russet Spotted Pinion, Triple-Spotted Pinion
Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
Lochmaeus bilineataDouble-Lined Prominent
Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
Lophocampa maculataSpotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
Lycia ypsilonWoolly Gray
Macaria exauspicataSpeckled Granite
Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
Melanchra adjunctaHitched Arches
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
Nerice bidentataDouble-Toothed Prominent
Norape cretataWhite Flannel Moth
Nymphalis milbertiMilbert's Tortoise Shell, Fire-Rim Tortoise Shell
Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
Olethreutes lacunanomLacuna Moth
Olethreutes mysterianaMysterious Olethreutes
Oreana unicolorellaLadder-Marked Caterpillar
Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthonama obstipataThe Gem
Orthosia garmaniGarman's Quaker
Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
Pandemis lamprosanaWoodgrain Leafroller
Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
Panopoda carneicostaBrown Panopoda, Hickory Panopoda
Pantographa limataBasswood Leafroller Moth
Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Papilio canadensisCanadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
Paraclemensia acerifoliellaMaple Leafcutter, Maple Case-Bearer
Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
Perimede erransellaGray Perimede
Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
Polygonia commaEastern Comma
Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
Selenia kentariaKent's Geometer
Sicya maculariaSharp-Lined Yellow
Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
Symmerista leucitysOrange-Humped Mapleworm
Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
Theisoa constrictellaConstricted Twirler
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
Utetheisa ornatrixOrnate Moth, Pink Underwing, Rattlebox Moth, Bella Moth
Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
Zale minereaColorful Zale
Argyresthia undulatella
Cameraria obstrictella
Ectoedemia ulmella
Olethreutes clavana
Xenotemna pallorana
Zamopsyche commentella

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

4BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Ulmus

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

5BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Ulmus

Aix sponsaWood Duck
Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Columba liviaRock Pigeon
Ortalis vetulaPlain Chachalaca
Passer domesticusHouse Sparrow

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Ulmaceae
Hardiness: Zones 3a–9b
Soil pH: Neutral
Flower color: Green or red
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Single stem
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Spring
Fruit ends: Spring

What its natural habitat tells you

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Early spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Flower color · “Green or red” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “60–80 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards differs)
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry; Occasionally wet; Very dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards differs)
Soil pH · “Neutral” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “30–60 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

West Virginia rank	S3S4
Global rank	G5
WV status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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