With a lineage that can be traced back to the Jefferson Elms planted along the National Mall in the 1930s, this modern cultivar has improved resistance to Dutch elm disease but the same signature upward vase-shaped form and dark-green foliage as its forebears. Cultivated in conjunction with the National Park Service and the U.S. National Arboretum, this native American elm will reach about 70 ft. tall with a 48 ft. spread, at a rate of about 2-3 ft. per year. Hardy and adaptable, it’s able to acclimate to a wide range of soils—even urban conditions. If you’re looking for a long-lived shade tree that will bring big landscape impact, this is the tree for you! Performs best planted in full sun. Zones 4-8.