Ulmus 'Morton' ACCOLADE is a deciduous elm hybrid that represents a triumph of modern plant breeding, combining the graceful form of Japanese and Chinese elm species to create a tree that thrives where Dutch elm disease has ravaged traditional American elms. This vase-shaped specimen grows 50 to 60 feet tall and 25 to 40 feet wide, reaching its full stature over time while remaining manageable in urban landscapes. Hardy in zones 4 through 9, ACCOLADE offers the classic elm silhouette, with insignificant flowers blooming from March through April, but its real gift is its exceptional resistance to Dutch elm disease, elm leaf miner, and elm leaf beetle, the trio of pests and pathogens that have defined elm growing for the past century.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-9
720in H x 480in W
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High
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ACCOLADE stands out because it delivers the stately elm form that landscapes have mourned since Dutch elm disease began decimating native species decades ago. Born from a cross between Ulmus japonica and Ulmus wilsoniana, this hybrid inherits robust disease resistance while maintaining the elegant vase shape and dense shade that made elms cherished street trees. The tree adapts beautifully to both wet and dry sites, tolerates urban pollution and compacted soils, and asks only for full sun and moderate water once established. Its low maintenance needs and proven performance in challenging city conditions make it a practical choice for gardeners seeking to restore elm character to their landscapes.
ACCOLADE excels as both a shade tree and a street tree, the two roles that define elm utility in landscape design. Its vase-shaped form and substantial mature size make it ideal for creating cooling canopies over residential yards and public spaces. The tree's tolerance of urban conditions, compacted soils, and air pollution allows it to thrive along city streets and in confined planting pits where many other trees struggle. Its ability to adapt to both wet and dry sites expands its usefulness across varied soil conditions, from parkland and estates to streetscapes and public gardens.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Regular pruning is advisable to establish and maintain ACCOLADE's vase shape and to remove crossing or competing branches that might create weak crotches. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges, and keep tools sharp and clean to minimize wound stress. Remove any dead, diseased, or insect-damaged wood promptly, as open wounds can invite secondary problems. Develop a strong central leader or allow the characteristic vase form to develop naturally depending on your intended landscape form.
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“ACCOLADE emerged from deliberate breeding work to resurrect the elm's role in urban and residential landscapes after Dutch elm disease devastated American elms throughout the 20th century. The hybrid combines Ulmus japonica, the Japanese elm, with Ulmus wilsoniana, a species from China, bringing together genetic traits for disease resistance and ornamental form. This strategic cross aimed to capture the weeping, graceful character that made elms iconic street and shade trees while equipping them to survive in a landscape forever changed by phloem necrosis and beetle vectors. The development of ACCOLADE represents decades of horticultural problem-solving, a deliberate effort to give gardeners back a tree species they thought they'd lost.”