THE PRINCE AND THE PRINCETON ELMS

(Left): The first Princeton elm on British soil, being planted by Roy Lancaster at Knoll Garden


A new avenue of 54 Princeton elms (Ulnus americana 'Princeton') has been planted on the Prince of Wales' estate at Highgrove - the first avenue of its kind since the advent of Dutch Elm Disease. The elms were provided by Dorset-based Knoll Gardens as part of a long-term project to restore the elm along the avenues of Britain.

“Over 20 million elms have been lost to Dutch Elm Disease since the mid 1970s,” said Neil Lucas, owner of Knoll Gardens. “This has caused a dramatic change to the landscape as well as removing the natural habitat of a unique community of organisms.”

The Princeton Elm is an incredibly disease resistant tree. It was originally selected in Princeton, New Jersey back in 1920 for its observed resistance to known maladies, classic elm shape and large leathery leaves. Despite the ravages of Dutch Elm Disease, roads lined with Princeton Elm planted in 1932 remain in perfect and picturesque condition today. In the early 1990s the tree was subjected to intensive modern testing for disease resistance and found to have a 96% survival rate. No other variety of Dutch Elm Disease susceptible, large-leafed elm can boast this combination of disease resistance and longevity in the landscape.

“The Princeton Elm not only has an 80 year disease resistant track record,” said Neil. “It is also a very worthy tree, beautifully aesthetic, and like all elms amazingly tolerant of harsh conditions, especially in urban situations. Our hope now is that these handsome and noble specimens will soon be planted in sufficient numbers to start restoring the elm throughout the British Isles.

“Our trees are being shipped in direct from Georgia, USA by Roger Holloway of Riveredge Farms. Roger is well known is the USA for his drive and determination to re-establish the elm. He takes personal delight in his recent achievement of supplying elms for planting along Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of The White House.”

“Its unique qualities made Princeton the clear choice of the National Forest Service for Pennsylvania Avenue,” said Roger. “Around 170 trees were planted and I’m looking forward to watching them become an integral part of the landscape around The White House.”

In Britain, working in partnership with Roger, Knoll has already supplied elms to the National Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley.

(Right) One of the new elms on Pennsylvania Avenue, with the White House in background.