This is that graceful vase shaped tree that can grow tall enough to shade an entire street. Elms are native to most of the United States as well as Europe and parts of Asia. The beautiful trees along so many streets in this country however are not American Elms, but European elms and most often red elm. There are some true American Elm trees around that managed to survive the Dutch Elm Disease infestation and some of these provided the genetic material for several patented cultivars that are now available and are being marketed as resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. Elm has a long history as a wood used in furniture and boat building. Even though Elm has a long history as a furniture wood it is not commonly available in lumber yards because of a policy aimed at combating Dutch Elm disease which required Wood from infected trees to either be burned or buried with in 24 hours of felling. This policy was difficult if not impossible to enforce and eventually it was abandoned. The bury or burn policy may not have stopped the spread of Dutch Elm disease but it took the wood off the market and now since no one knows it is available there is no demand for it, and since there is no demand for it, it is not available in the market..... When the London Bridge was dismantled and moved to Arizona the Pilings in the water were found to be made out of Elm and were in good condition. Elm bends well green as well as with steam. It is easily worked with machine tools, though it does tend to dull blades rather quickly. Because the fibers tend to be interlocking it makes Elm a poor choice to carve. All the different types of elm most often called American Elm vary greatly in strength as well as hardness and color. European Red Elm is lighter in color and substantially harder and stronger than true American Elm. The areas where the fibers interlock look the same as the surrounding wood but take the finish slightly different causing the light to be reflected differently and give the feeling of having more character and age than a piece might otherwise have. The picture above is of Red Elm. It is from a large tree that came from in front of some apartments on 8th street in San Jose. I also have some red elm from a tree that blew over this winter around the corner from where I live as well as a true American Elm that blew over on San Jose State University grounds during the El Niño of the late 90's.
© Robin Corell 2005