The arrival of Dutch elm disease (DED) in North America in the 1930s resulted in the loss of untold numbers of white (American) elm trees (Ulmus americana) from Ontario’s towns, fields, and roadsides. In addition to losses from the disease itself, thousands of healthy elms were cut down as part of aggressive efforts to stop the spread of DED. We now know that some elms possess immune system responses that allow them to tolerate infection without succumbing to the disease; however, DED tolerant trees are currently located so far apart that they are rarely able to cross-pollinate. Many people today have not had the experience of witnessing the incredible canopy that white elm once produced.

 

     

The Elm Recovery Project (ERP) began in 1998 through the efforts of former Arboretum interpretive horticulturalist Henry Kock, whose curiosity was piqued by observing large elm trees across Ontario that appeared to have survived infection by Dutch elm disease. The on-going aim of the project is to assist the recovery of white elm from the impacts of Dutch elm disease by reintroducing genetically diverse populations of disease-tolerant elms to the Ontario landscape, and was aptly described by the media as a "dating service" for lonely elms. With the help the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and many newspapers, over 800 large surviving elm trees throughout Ontario have been reported to the ERP, from Windsor to Sault Ste. Marie and as far east as Ottawa. The most promising of these trees have been screened through inoculation trials at The Arboretum and the top performers are currently being produced for distribution to satellite orchards around the province. It is hoped that boosting local gene pools with pollen from elms known to possess disease tolerance will speed the recovery process as the favourable traits of the orchard trees are passed on to the next generations of genetically diverse elm seedlings.