Dutch Elm Disease by Region

Dutch Elm Disease has spread across most temperate regions where elms grow naturally or have been planted. Its impact has varied substantially by climate, urban planting density, the timing of arrival, and the strength of local management programs. This index links to country, state, and city profiles documenting DED's local history and current status.

Country pillars

Dutch Elm Disease in the United States — first arrived 1930; established across most states with elm populations

Dutch Elm Disease in the United Kingdom — second-wave outbreak from the late 1960s killed an estimated 25 million elms

Dutch Elm Disease in Canada — eastern arrival 1944; westward spread continues

US states

Dutch Elm Disease in Minnesota — University of Minnesota breeding programs and Twin Cities municipal management

Dutch Elm Disease in Wisconsin — University of Wisconsin breeding program origin

Additional state profiles are planned for New York, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, Colorado, Oregon, California, and Ohio.

City and regional spotlights

Dutch Elm Disease in Minneapolis — long-running US municipal sanitation and injection program

Dutch Elm Disease in Winnipeg — largest surviving urban American elm canopy in the world

Dutch Elm Disease in Brighton and Hove — South Coast English elm refugium protected by geographic isolation

Dutch Elm Disease in Edinburgh — Scottish wych elm population preserved by climate and management

Dutch Elm Disease in Toronto — large Canadian urban canopy

Why regional differences matter

Three broad factors drive regional variation in DED impact:

Climate and beetle range. The disease requires warm enough conditions for elm bark beetles (Scolytus spp. and Hylurgopinus rufipes) to complete their life cycle. Cold-region cities such as Winnipeg and Edinburgh experience reduced beetle pressure that gives management programs an edge.

Urban planting density and species composition. Cities that planted American elm as a near-monoculture along streets (typical of much of North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s) experienced rapid catastrophic spread once DED arrived. Mixed-species plantings and lower elm densities slowed the disease.

Timing of arrival and management response. Cities that recognized the disease early and committed sustained budgets to sanitation, injection, and replacement programs preserved much more of their canopies than cities that responded late or sporadically.

Quarantine and movement regulations

Most countries with established DED enforce restrictions on the movement of elm wood across regional boundaries. In the United States, USDA APHIS maintains federal quarantine zones for forest pests. The European Union enforces phytosanitary regulations under Council Directive 2000/29/EC. Canada operates similar restrictions through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

For practical disposal guidance, see Can Firewood Spread Dutch Elm Disease?.

Related pages

What Is The Range of Dutch Elm Disease?

Where Did Dutch Elm Disease Come From?

Disease Biology & Causes

References

USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Monitoring National Status, Trends, and Analysis.

Brasier, C. M. (2000). "Intercontinental spread and continuing evolution of the Dutch elm disease pathogens." In The Elms: Breeding, Conservation, and Disease Management (pp. 61–72). Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Hubbes, M. (1999). "The American elm and Dutch elm disease." The Forestry Chronicle, 75(2), 265–273.