New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx in Bronx County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
American Elm: A Survival Story
This large elm survived a devastating epidemic.
Not all of the trees in this collection are conifers. Like NYBG's other gardens, this collection was designed to complement the natural landscape and its native trees. The cultivated conifer collection grows among native trees, including maples, hickories, oaks, and elms.
The American elm (Ulmus americana) straight ahead towers more than 100 feet and is more than a century old. It is a rare survivor of Dutch elm disease. The deadly fungal infection has killed approximately 75% of North American elms since it was unintentionally introduced to the United States in a shipment of lumber from Europe in the 1930s. Once found shading city streets across the country, elms largely disappeared from towns throughout the Northeast and Midwest.
To prevent the loss of more elms, NYBG's gardeners and arborists inspect regularly for wilting yellow leaves, the first sign of infection. Horticulturists have developed disease-resistant cultivars such as 'Valley Forge' and 'Princeton' to replace lost elms in parks and streets.
Erected by New York Botanical Garden.
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Location. 40° 51.465′ N, 73° 52.549′ W. Marker is in Bronx, New York, in Bronx County. It is in New York Botanical Garden. It can be reached from the intersection of Southern Boulevard and Xavier Way, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx NY 10467, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Metasequoia: Living Fossil (within shouting distance of this marker); Judy and Michael Steinhardt Maple Collection (within shouting distance of this marker);
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 16, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
