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New Horizon elm

Ulmus 'New Horizon'

Common names:
New Horizon elm

Content Detail

The New Horizon elm has slightly arching branches that give it a more finely textured appearance than most elms. It has excellent resistance to Dutch elm disease (DED), elm leaf miner, and verticillium wilt. This cultivar has large, dark green leaves that take on a rusty-red tint in fall. It is useful as a street, parkway, or shade tree.

  • Family (English) Elm
  • Family (botanic) Ulmaceae
  • Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, Restricted sites, Wide median
  • Tree or plant type Tree
  • Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
  • Native locale Non-native
  • Size range Medium tree (25-40 feet), Large tree (more than 40 feet)
  • Mature height 30-40 feet
  • Mature width 15-25 feet
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
  • Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
  • Tolerances Alkaline soil, clay soil, Dry sites, Road salt
  • Season of interest early fall, mid fall
  • Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
  • Shape or form Oval, Upright
  • Growth rate Fast
  • Transplants well Yes
  • Wildlife Migrant birds
  • Has cultivars NA

Size and form:

New Horizon elm’s mature height is 30 to 40 feet and mature width is 15 to 25 feet.

Native geographic location and habitat:

It is of hybrid origin.

Bark color and texture:

The ridged and furrowed bark is gray.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

New Horizon elm has oval, pointed, 3 to 4 inch long leaves that have doubly-toothed margins. The leaf is shorter on one side of the center vein than on the other. Leaves are dark green in summer, changing to yellow in fall.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Inconspicuous flowers in early spring.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

The seed is in a small oval samara (seed case with wings) for wind dispersal.

Plant care:

It prefers a moist, well-drained soil. Elm trees should not be pruned between mid-April and mid-October.

List of pests, diseases and tolerances:

European elm flea weevil is a minor problem and wetwood can occur. This cultivar has excellent resistance to Dutch elm disease (DED), elm leaf miner, and verticillium wilt.

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