American Elm

American Elm. Ulmus americana. , Longwood has one of the most historically significant tree collections in the region., This land was originally owned by William Penn, and later part of a 202-acre working farm and arboretum belonging to the Peirce family. The arboretum, known as Peirce's Park, was recognized in the mid-19th century as one of the finest tree collections in the nation. In 1906, Pierre S. du Pont purchased the land that is now Longwood Gardens in an effort to save the arboretum of majestic trees from being sold for lumber. Mr. du Pont restored and improved this landscape., Today, we continue to preserve and protect our trees across the property. Our arborist and pest management experts maintain tree health with year-round monitoring, including ongoing pruning, remediation, and, as a last resort, replacement to ensure our trees thrive for many years to come., You may visit the original arboretum located in Peirce's Park nearby the Peirce-du Pont House. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , This mature American elm is the sole survivor of an allée of elms planted in the 1930s that were later compromised by Dutch elm disease, a fungal disease spread by beetles. Signs of the disease first appeared in North America in the 1930s and between 1975 and 1989 our stately elms to the east of this remaining specimen were impacted. Today our team has collected propagules from this surviving elm to replant in other areas of the Gardens. You can find one located in Peirce's Woods.