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Maryland Champion
English Elm
Ulmus procera
Goshen Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland

Circumference = 236 inches (19.6 feet)
Height = 103 feet
Average Crown Spread = 94 feet
Estimated Age = 200 years
Nominated: 1995
by: S. Zepnick & M. Kaufman
cloned: 2001

The English Elm is an introduced species that is native to Britain, where is widely planted and grows to great height with age.
Milt Kaufman
with the Goshen Elm

This magnificent English Elm specimen is growing along a Maryland highway. Originally it was mistaken for a Rock Elm, and was registered as the National Champion. Closer inspection revealed it to be an English Elm, and, as such, is only a Maryland Champion.

Recently, highway and housing developments threatened to crowd, even remove this tree, but area residents organized the Alliance for the Goshen Elm to convince planners and developers to spare the splendid tree. Currently these big tree advocates are urging the state to purchase the tree and its land to preserve as a park.

for more information, visit:
Champion Elm in the Path of Progress
Big Elm Gets a Reprieve
Goshen Elm survives urban sprawl

Goshen Elm Preservation
Alliance for the Goshen Elm (AGE)
Formation
  • In 1995, Steve Zepnick registered the tree as a Rock Elm in the Forestry Board's biannual Big Tree Contest. The tree was recognized as the County Champion, and later the State Champion.
  • Although originally thought to be a Rock Elm, it was later correctly identified as an English Elm. As such, it is the State Champion.
  • It has since gained national recognition as the
    State of Maryland's Millennium Landmark Tree.
  • In 1999, when Steve learned that a proposed housing development would come endanger the elm, he joined with Milt Kaufmann to form the Alliance for the Goshen Elm (AGE).
  • AGE was formed as a citizens group with the sole purpose of preserving the Goshen Elm.
    Achievements
    To protect the tree, including it's roots, AGE has worked with the following:
  • Montgomery County Department of Public Works and Transportation assured the widening of Goshen Road won't extend further east and encroach the trees roots.
  • Montgomery-National Capital Park and Planning Commission purchased the building lot which contains half the tree's roots.
  • AGE acquired a cash donation from the Wildlife Land Trust to help close the purchase.
  • Utility companies moved utility easements away from the roots.
  • Developers moved the entrance to the subdivision further away from the tree. Sidewalks for the subdivision were also moved away from the roots.
    Future Plans
    Endowment Fund
    AGE's next goal is to assure the future of the Goshen Elm. In addition to creating the mini-park for the elm, AGE would like to insure that there are funds available for the proper maintenance of the Goshen Elm, including continued protection against Dutch Elm disease. To this end, AGE has created the
    Goshen Elm Endowment Fund
    Goshen Elm Saplings
    AGE rescued saplings growing from the Goshen Elm's roots located where the entrance road to the development will be constructed. AGE has potted them and plans to use them to encourage endowment fund support.
    Park Dedication Ceremony
    AGE has planned a formal dedication of the mini-park for summer 2001.

    for more information:
    Steve Zepnick
    Alliance for the Goshen Elm
    9101 Bramble Bush Court
    Gaithersburg, MD 20879-1617
    s.zepnick@juno.com
    • Identification

    In overall characteristics, the English Elm is very similar to the native species of Slippery Elm.

    Size: Commonly reaches 80 feet tall, with 3 foot diameter, but can grow to 150 feet high with a six foot trunk. Trees are known to live to 300 years old.

    Range: Native of England and Western Europe. Widely planted in America since colonial times, and escaping in Northeast and Pacific states.

    Habitat: Scattered in moist soil, roadsides, thickets, and forest borders, spreading from cultivation.

    Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptical, 2 to 3.25 inches long, 1.25 to 2 inches wide, abruptly long pointed at tip, base with very unequal sides. Dark green and rough above, paler with soft hairs and tufts at vein angles underneath. Ten to 12 straight veins run from midrib to doubly-toothed margins.

    Flowers are 1/8 inch wide, dark red, clustered along twigs in very early spring, before leaves. Flowers are frost tender, which may contribute to the sterility of its seed.

    Fruit mature in late spring on short stalks as a small 1/2 inch long, rounded, flat, greenish, hairless keys, with one seed near narrow notch at tip.

    Bark gray, deeply furrowed into rectangular plates.

    Twigs are slender, brown, densely covered with hairs when young, sometimes with corky wings.


    Culture

    The English Elm has several cultivated varieties that differ in habit and leaf color, including white-striped, dark purple and yellowish.

    Soils:

    Seedlings: English Elm rarely forms fertile seed. It is propagated from suckers which spring from its roots, which often encircle the trunk, or appear at a great distance.

    Saplings:

    Special:

    Problems: The English Elm is endangered by Dutch Elm Disease, which has rendered it effectively extinct in its native home range. Dutch Elm Disease is caused by the ascomycetic fungus (Cerotocystis ulmi) which eats through and clogs the vascular system of the tree to prevent the flow of sap between roots and crown, thus killing the tree. The disease can be prevented by injecting the tree with a fungicide.

    Cultivars:

    Related Species:


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    TERRA: The Earth Restoration and Reforestation Alliance — www.championtrees.org — updated 8/14/2003