The New Horizon elm was raised by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation in response to the widespread loss of English elm following the spread of Dutch Elm disease. It is a cross between a clone of the Japanese elm Ulmus davidiana var japonica and a clone of the Siberian elm Ulmus pumila. The hybrid was patented in the USA in 1994 and later protected under EU plant breeders rights. It was distributed by German Nursery Conrad Appeal and in the UK by Hillier Nurseries. In 2004 New Horizon elms were planted in London, Belfast, Cardiff and Hamburg. The Belfast Botanic Gardens tree was one of this initial UK planting. The New Horizon elm is smaller than the English elms – Hilliers claim it will be a “very useful street tree”.

Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens in 2016. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens.