The iconic American Elm once was the most popular of all street trees, creating Cathedral-like arches with its wide crown and graceful branches.  By the 20th Century most streets were lined with rows and rows of gloriously beautiful Elms.
 
By mid-Century, Elm trees fell sick to a devastating and invasive fungus first observed in the United States in the 1930s.  Elm trees fell one after the other to this disease, which still has no cure.
 
The 'Jefferson' is a good option for anyone looking for a native Elm tree as all 'Jefferson' elms are cloned from an elm on the National Mall (pictured) that has survived since the 1930s. 
 
'Jefferson' retains the shape of the classic Elm and is considered to have excellent resistance to Dutch elm disease.
 
It also is a larval host to the Mourning Cloak and Painted Lady butterflies, along with various moth species, and it attracts birds and honeybees.