It has been planted widely as a shade and ornamental tree. The leaves are oval, sharp pointed with double-toothed margins and have prominent midrib and lateral veins. Leaves are 4 to 6 inches long, dark green above, and light green beneath. The oval shaped-fruit is winged, with the seed in the center of the wing. The fruit appears on the tree in clusters.
Twigs are reddish brown and tend to droop.
The bark will always identify the American elm. It is light to dark gray, irregularly ridged and deep furrowed. If a piece of the bark is removed from the tree and broken crossways, it will be found to be built up in alternate brown and creamy white layers.