North Dakota State Tree: American Elm

North Dakota's official state tree is the American Elm, a large deciduous hardwood native to eastern North America. This elm grows 60 to 80 feet tall in North Dakota, with exceptional specimens reaching 100 feet. The trunk measures two to four feet in diameter on mature trees. American elm tolerates North Dakota's extreme climate better than most hardwoods, surviving temperatures from 110°F summer heat to -40°F winter cold. The tree grows relatively fast for North Dakota conditions, adding 12 to 18 inches per year in favorable years. Elms typically live 150 to 200 years in North Dakota. The species proved invaluable for creating windbreaks and shelterbelts that protect North Dakota farms and towns from relentless prairie winds.

The bark appears gray-brown with deep vertical furrows and flat-topped ridges creating a diamond pattern. Young trees show relatively smooth bark that develops furrows as the tree ages. The leaves measure three to six inches long with a distinctive asymmetrical base - one side of the leaf extends beyond the other where it attaches to the twig. This lopsided base provides certain identification. The leaf edges show doubly serrated teeth - large teeth with smaller teeth along them. Leaves emerge light green in spring, turn dark green in summer, and change to yellow in fall before dropping. The vase-shaped crown creates the classic elm silhouette - a tall trunk dividing into ascending branches that arch outward and upward.

American elm grows throughout North Dakota where humans planted it, particularly in towns, farmsteads, and shelterbelts. The species is not native to North Dakota's treeless prairie but was introduced by settlers who needed trees for windbreaks and shade. North Dakota's natural tree cover before settlement occurred only in river valleys along the Missouri, Red, and other major waterways. Settlers systematically planted elms across the prairie landscape, creating the tree-lined streets and protective shelterbelts that characterize North Dakota today. The tree thrives in North Dakota's deep prairie soils when provided adequate water. Dutch elm disease devastated North Dakota elms starting in the 1970s, killing thousands of trees in towns across the state. Disease-resistant elm varieties now allow North Dakotans to replant this historically important species.

The official name is American Elm, distinguishing it from European and Asian elm species. North Dakotans call it simply elm or white elm, the latter referring to the light-colored wood. The scientific name Ulmus americana combines Ulmus (classical Latin for elm) with americana indicating North American origin. Early North Dakota settlers called these trees prairie elm when they planted them across grasslands. The genus Ulmus includes about 35 species worldwide.

Some North Dakota references use the name water elm, though the tree doesn't require wetland conditions. Pioneers sometimes called large specimens cathedral trees for the arching branches. The species belongs to the Ulmaceae family, the elm family. North Dakota's American Elm is the same species found throughout eastern North America, though trees growing in North Dakota face harsher conditions than elms in milder climates. North Dakota elms develop remarkable cold hardiness, surviving winter temperatures that would kill elms in southern states.

North Dakota designated the American Elm as its official state tree in 1947. The North Dakota Legislature passed the designation during the 1947 session. The legislation recognized elm as the tree that transformed North Dakota's prairie landscape and made farm life tenable. By 1947, American elm had become the dominant tree in North Dakota towns and the most important species in shelterbelts protecting farms across the state. The designation honored the tree that brought shade, beauty, and wind protection to the treeless Great Plains.

North Dakota selected American Elm because it represented the state's transformation from treeless grassland to a landscape where trees made human settlement sustainable. Before European settlement, North Dakota was almost entirely treeless prairie and grassland. Only narrow strips of cottonwood and willow grew along river valleys. The lack of trees meant no windbreaks to protect against winter blizzards and summer dust storms. Early homesteaders faced brutal conditions with winds sweeping unobstructed across hundreds of miles of open prairie. Settlers quickly learned they needed trees to survive. American elm proved ideal for North Dakota conditions - it tolerated cold, drought, wind, and alkaline soils common across the state.

The tree played a crucial role in North Dakota's agricultural development. Starting in the 1870s, North Dakota farmers planted elm shelterbelts around farmsteads and fields. These windbreaks reduced wind speed by up to 80 percent on the leeward side, protecting buildings, livestock, and crops. Shelterbelts prevented soil erosion that had devastated farms during dust bowl years. The trees trapped snow in winter, providing moisture to fields when snow melted in spring. North Dakota communities lined streets with elms, transforming dusty prairie towns into livable places with shade and beauty. Cities like Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks became known for magnificent elm-lined avenues. The Civilian Conservation Corps planted thousands of miles of shelterbelts across North Dakota during the 1930s, with American elm as a primary species. These plantings helped North Dakota weather the Dust Bowl and established the state's modern agricultural landscape. The elm designation in 1947 came as North Dakota celebrated success in transforming bare prairie into productive farmland protected by millions of trees. American elm symbolized human perseverance, agricultural innovation, and the creation of livable communities in one of North America's harshest climates. The tree represented North Dakota's accomplishment in making the Great Plains habitable through systematic tree planting.

North Dakota's state flower is the Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana), designated in 1907. The state adopted its floral symbol 40 years before choosing American elm. Both symbols represent North Dakota's transformation from wild prairie to settled landscape. The low-growing wild rose blooms pink across native prairies and roadsides, while American elm towers over towns and farmsteads. Prairie roses flower in June as elm leaves reach full size. Together these symbols capture North Dakota's character - the wild prairie rose representing the original grassland and the American elm representing human settlement and agricultural development that transformed the state.

Check the leaf base for certain identification. Where the leaf attaches to the twig, one side of the leaf base extends noticeably beyond the other, creating an asymmetrical or lopsided appearance. This uneven base is diagnostic for all elm species. The leaves measure three to six inches long with doubly serrated edges - large teeth with smaller teeth along them. The upper leaf surface feels slightly rough. The undersides show fine hairs. Leaves attach to twigs in an alternate arrangement with one leaf per node. Fall color turns clear yellow before leaves drop.

The bark develops a distinctive pattern on mature North Dakota elms. Look for gray-brown bark with deep vertical furrows separated by flat-topped ridges. The ridges often show diamond patterns where furrows intersect. The bark texture feels rough and corky. Young elm bark starts relatively smooth and light gray, gradually developing furrows and darker color as trees age. Very old trees show thick, deeply furrowed bark with irregular plated ridges. Twigs are slender and somewhat zigzagging with pointed buds.

The overall form shows the classic vase shape that made elms famous. A straight trunk extends 15 to 30 feet before dividing into several major ascending limbs. These limbs arch outward and upward, creating the characteristic vase or fountain silhouette. The crown spreads 40 to 60 feet wide on mature trees, providing extensive shade. This spreading form made American elm ideal for North Dakota streets and farmyards. In spring before leaves emerge, look for clusters of small greenish flowers that develop into flat, round, papery seeds called samaras. The seeds measure about half an inch across with a notch at one end. They mature and disperse in spring, often carpeting ground beneath North Dakota elms.

American Elm represents North Dakota's pioneer determination and agricultural innovation. The tree symbolizes human ability to adapt harsh environments for settlement through systematic tree planting. For North Dakotans, elm evokes memories of shaded main streets in prairie towns and protective shelterbelts around family farms. The species embodies the transformation from treeless grassland to a landscape where trees make life tenable. Despite Dutch elm disease devastating many trees, the elm remains North Dakota's symbol because disease-resistant varieties now allow restoration. The tree represents North Dakota's resilience - facing challenges, adapting, and persevering to create and maintain livable communities on the Great Plains.