Ulmus ‘New Horizon’

Tree Information

Specialities

Tolerances

Wet Soil: High

Dry Soil: Medium

Lime: High

Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ is a resilient, medium to large deciduous tree offering complete resistance to Dutch Elm Disease (DED), making it an ideal solution for restoring elm populations in urban and rural environments. This fast-growing elm quickly establishes itself in difficult conditions, forming a dense, rounded canopy filled with vibrant green foliage that retains colour even during periods of drought.

Unlike many other elm cultivars, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ thrives in spaces similar to those needed for Tilia cordata, making it suitable for avenues, SUDS schemes, car parks, and larger landscaping projects. Its durability is unmatched, tolerating air pollution, salt-laden winds, compacted soils, waterlogging, and even temporary flooding. It’s proven hardy in UK urban developments, motorway verges, and coastal planting schemes.

This tree plays a vital ecological role too. Sharing phenology with native elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ provides essential habitat for the endangered White-letter Hairstreak butterfly (WLH), a UK species in steep decline due to DED. A thriving WLH population now exists in Vauxhall Spring Gardens, London, within a stand of Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ monitored by Butterfly Conservation.

Following the restrictions on ash (Fraxinus) movement in the UK, this elm has become an excellent substitute, offering the same structural presence with added disease resilience. As a member of the Resista® Elms collection, each Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ is microchipped and exclusively grown under licence by Hillier, ensuring traceability and quality.

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Size

Medium/Large

10m high x 4m wide after 25 years

Environment

Fast growing so should be planted where space allows. Successful applications in various settings, including SUDs schemes, car parks, motorway central reservations, demanding urban environments coastal plantings and rural avenues.

Canopy

A robust, large tree with an upright habit, straight central leader and dense conical crown. As it matures, it becomes more rounded and requires a comparable amount of space as Tilia cordata. To get a sense of potential size, the original tree is still located at the University of Wisconsin.

Foliage

Dark green, even in drought conditions. Ovate-elliptic in shape, unequal at the base and have a sharply toothed margin. Come autumn, leaves will turn yellow before dropping.

Bark

Dark grey-brown in colour and furrowed. As it matures, rectangular plates will flake off.

Resilience

100% Dutch Elm Disease free. Resilient to drought, tolerant of occasional waterlogging and suitable for coastal conditions. Will grow in all soil types including sand, loam and clay and will tolerate paving, frost and wind. Will survive in very high and very low temperatures and can withstand flooding.

Wildlife

Host to the White-letter Hairsteak Butterfly that is native to the UK and is an endangered species.

Available As:

Semi-Mature, Super Semi-Mature