Audubon® Native Valley Forge American Elm

Big, beautiful, and hardy! Valley Forge American Elm is best known as the most disease resistant of all other Elms. The strong traditional Elm look makes a commanding presence in your landscape, growing to heights of 60 to 80 feet tall, and can live up to 300 years - a lifetime of wonderful memories! This handsome tree serves as a host for many butterflies as the caterpillars snack on the foliage. Many of our beloved birds like Northern Cardinals, warblers, finches, and nuthatches enjoy both its seeds and leaf buds, as we get to enjoy their songs and colors right in the backyard. Bask under the oversized leaves, or have a fourth of July picnic beneath the arching architecture. Valley Forge American Elm is a staple, adding resilience and prosperity to all gardens.

Grand old American Elms once lined our streets, their lofty, arching canopies meeting overhead and casting cooling shade below. In the 1930s, an accidentally imported disease began killing these gentle giants. By the 1950s and ’60s, millions of trees had died. But not all! Contrary to what many people believe, some American Elms were able to survive. The two largest survivors live in Baltimore, Maryland, and Chesapeake, Virginia. The Maryland tree is 112 feet tall and 84 feet wide; the Virginia specimen is 110 feet by 116 feet. Both have trunks that are more than six feet in diameter.

Valley Forge American Elm is the ultimate shade tree, with a story of resilience and prosperity! Add American Elms to the southern and southwest side of your property to cool your home in the summertime. Pair with other disease-resistant elms to create a collected focal point. Plant along the length of your property alternating between Valley Forge and Princeton Elms as they will play off each other with beautiful contrasting colors in the fall. These wonderful and noble trees become a formal accent tree on any commercial property.

Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.

What is the definition of Native?

“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society

Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.

Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.