Ulmus americana 'Princeton'

Infobox Cultivar | name = "Ulmus americana"


image_caption = 'Princeton' aged 6 years, Great Fontley, UK.
cultivar = 'Princeton'
origin = Princeton, USA
synonyms =The Princeton Elm is a cultivar of the American Elm "Ulmus americana" originally selected in 1920 by a New Jersey grower for its landscape qualities. In 1932 many examples of this cultivar were planted along Washington Road and another road in Princeton, and most of these trees survive to this day [http://www.botanyshop.com/OtherItems/PrincetonElmGallery/PrincetonElmGallery.htm] unaffected by disease.

Description

The tree can grow to over 30 m in height, and is distinguished by its symmetric, straight, upright branches ultimately forming a broad umbrella crown. The pale-green leaves are < 160 mm long by 80 mm broad.

Pests and diseases

Testing in laboratory conditions by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1992-1993 revealed that this cultivar has a very high resistance to Dutch elm disease Santamour, J., Frank, S. & Bentz, S. (1995). Updated checklist of elm (Ulmus) cultivars for use in North America. "Journal of Arboriculture", 21:3 (May 1995), 121-131. International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, Illinois, USA.] Smalley, E. B. & Guries, R. P. (1993). Breeding Elms for Resistance to Dutch Elm Disease. "Annual Review of Phytopathology" Vol. 31 : 325-354. Palo Alto, California.] Townsend, A. M., Bentz, S. E., and Douglass L. W. (2005). [http://www.elmpost.org/19elms.pdf Evaluation of 19 American Elm Clones for Tolerance to Dutch Elm Disease] . "Journal of Environmental Horticulture", March 2005, Horticultural Research Institute, Washington, D.C. ] . Trees grown in the UK have proven very susceptible to damage by leaf-feeding insects, far more so than native or Asiatic elms. Henry noted that such damage was common to all American Elm "Ulmus americana" grown in the UK Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). "The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland". Vol. VII. pp 1848-1929. Private publication. [http://fax.libs.uga.edu/QK488xE4/7tgbi/] ] .

Cultivation

'Princeton' was chosen to replace elms killed by disease along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House. The tree has also been introduced to the UK. In 2004, Penelope Hobhouse ordered two specimens from the New York Botanical Gardens for planting at her family home, Hadspen, in Somerset. Two years later, the tree was selected by HRH The Prince of Wales to create the Anniversary Avenue at his residence Highgrove, from the Orchard Room reception centre to the Golden Bird statue at the boundary of the garden. The tree has also featured in elm trials conducted by "Butterfly Conservation" and has proven to be a vigorous, robust tree on well-drained soils. 'Princeton' is currently being evaluated in the National Elm Trial coordinated by Colorado State University [http://treehealth.agsci.colostate.edu/research/nationalelmtrial/NET_Cultivars.htm] .

NB. The original Princeton Elm, which grew in Princeton Cemetery and was estimated to be over 150 years old, was felled in April 2005 after suffering 60% dieback, attributed by some accounts to Dutch Elm Disease [http://www.landscapeelms.com/NL%20SUMMER-05.pdf] .

Accessions

North America

*Arnold Arboretum, acc. nos. 352-91, 561-89.
*Bartlett Tree Experts, acc. nos. 2001-249, 2001-250, 2001-251, 2001-484, 2001-485, 2003-964.
*Dawes Arboretum [http://www.dawesarb.org/collectionsgardens/plant-search.asp] , Newark, Ohio. 2 trees, no acc. details available.
*Holden Arboretum, acc. nos. 2002-435, 2003-174, 56-908.
*Longwood Gardens, acc. nos. 2000-0362, 2002-0414, 2003-0032, 2004-0675.

Europe

*Brighton & Hove City Council, NCCPG Elm Collection [http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1108042] , UK.
*Great Fontley Farm, Fareham, UK, "Butterfly Conservation" Elm Trials plantation, Home Field C1, (planted 2004).
*Royal Horticultural Society Gardens, Wisley, UK. Planted bed WA 0201, c.2002.

Nurseries

North America

*Charles Fiore Nurseries, Prairie View, Illinois
*Princeton Nurseries [http://www.princetonnurseries.com/] , Allentown, New Jersey
*Riveredge Farms [http://www.americanelm.com/our_trees.html] , Atlanta, Georgia
*Sunshine Nursery [http://www.sunshinenursery.com/catalogue.htm] , Clinton, Oklahoma
*The Botany Shop Garden Center [http://www.botanyshop.com/ValleyForge.htm] , Missouri

Europe

*Barcham Trees [http://barcham.co.uk/taxonomy/term/94] , Ely, Cambs., UK
*Knoll Gardens [http://www.knollgardens.co.uk] , Wimborne, Dorset, UK

References

External links

*http://www.elmpost.org/2003-03.htm Photograph from 2002 of Princeton elms lining Washington Road in Princeton, New Jersey.