​Elm is the state tree of Massachusetts and North Dakota.
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Where It Grows

The Eastern to Midwest U.S. Average tree height is 40 to 60 feet.
Main uses

Furniture, cabinet making, flooring, millwork, paneling and caskets.
Relative Abundance

Together, aspen, basswood, cottonwood, elm, gum, hackberry, sassafras, sycamore and willow represent 12.5 percent of commercially available U.S. hardwoods.
Did You Know?

The red elm has a glue-like substance in its inner bark that formerly was steeped in water as a remedy for throat ailments; powdered for use in poultices, and chewed as a thirst-quencher.
General Description

Red elm has a greyish white to light brown narrow sapwood, with heartwood that is reddish brown to dark brown in color. The grain can be straight, but is often interlocked. The wood has a coarse texture.
Working Properties

The wood of red elm is fairly easy to work, it nails, screws and glues well, and can be sanded and stained to a good finish. It dries well with minimum degrade and little movement in performance.
Physical Properties

Elm is moderately heavy, hard and stiff with excellent bending and shock resistance. It is difficult to split because of its interlocked grain.
Availability

Available.

 

(RS Boone, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry)