American Elm, planted (?), most populations in the American west have escaped DED and have attained an old age. Those in Durango are usually affected by elm leaf beetle, and also along the Front Range by Japanese Beetle.

Some of Colorado’s largest American Elms are scions taken from an elm planted by George Washington at Mt. Vernon and have reached a great age and size in Loveland, Denver, and elsewhere.

Elms are easily identified by their bark (smooth on young trees and furrowed on mature trees); by their rough, toothed leaves with unequal bases; and by their fruit that is called manna because it is produced in large quantities. Another characteristic trait is that young branches have shoots growing in mostly one plane, in a zigzag fashion,so they are flat.

Durango has recently planted the newer DED resistant variety called Accolade and most of the younger trees seen in town are that one.

The other larger elm seen ubiquitously in the Four Corners area is the Siberian Elm.