Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ – New Horizon Elm

Botanical Name: Ulmus ‘New Horizon’

The New Horizon Elm (Ulmus ‘New Horizon’) is a medium sized deciduous tree with a fast growth rate – increasing twig size quickly. However, it is unusual in that it is slow to grow vertically. It has an upright, pyramidal growth habit with slightly arching branches and compact, dense foliage. This tree has a slightly finer texture than most other elms.

This hybrid is the result of a cross between Ulmus pumila (Siberian Elm) and Ulmus davidiana var. Japonica (Japanese Elm). It grows to a height of 30-40 feet with a spread of 20-25 feet.

The leaves are glossy, oval shaped, and dark green. They measure 3-4 inches long and have doubly serrated margins, with the asymmetrical leaf base typical of elm leaves. The leaves turn shades of yellow and red in the fall but the display is not showy.

The flowers of the New Horizon Elm are small, green, and inconspicuous – typical of elm trees. They emerge in spring before the leaves unfurl. The fruits are delicate, paper-like samaras that contain a single seed and develop in April or May. The bark is gray.

This elm tree is tolerant of pollution and drought, growing well in a variety of urban sites and soil conditions. It has good resistance to Dutch Elm disease, the elm leaf miner, and verticillium wilt but can be susceptible to the elm leaf beetle.