Wood Species Guide
American Elm
Ulmus americana
Also called: Elm, White Elm, Soft Elm, Water Elm, Swamp Elm, Gray Elm, Florida Elm
What American Elm looks like
Heartwood is light to medium reddish brown, and the narrow sapwood is off-white. The color deepens a little over time.
Grain and texture
Interlocked grain with a coarse texture. Flatsawn boards show a bold, wavy growth-ring pattern, a bit like ash or oak but with more swirl.
Working American Elm: planing, cutting and gluing
Tough rather than hard, and the interlocked grain resists splitting, which is why it was used for hubs and chair seats. It can be fuzzy and tear out on the planer, so sharp knives and a light last pass help. It steam bends very well and glues fine.
Finishing American Elm: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil and film finishes well, and the grain pattern shows nicely under a clear coat. The open, porous grain will push bubbles into epoxy, so seal-coat before a pour or flood coat.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not rot resistant. Elm likes to warp while drying, so look for flat, well-dried stock. In Florida, acclimate the boards indoors and finish both faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Dutch elm disease took most of the big street trees, so elm lumber and slabs mostly come from urban salvage. Those slabs can be wide and wildly figured, and elm takes a live edge well. Flatten in stages, because it can keep moving after the first pass. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for American Elm
Furniture, chair seats, live-edge tables, boxes, flooring, veneer, and bent parts.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. Wild populations were badly reduced by Dutch elm disease, though the species survives across its range.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
Elm dust occasionally irritates eyes and skin, and a few allergy reports exist. Serious reactions are rare.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Elm dust can act as a sensitizer, usually as eye and skin irritation. Use dust collection and a mask.
American Elm in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have American Elm listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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