Botanic Garden Elm

One of the oldest trees on the U.S. Capitol Grounds is this Caucasian elm/zelkova (Zelkova carpinifolia). It has been growing in this location since around 1850 and is associated with the original location of the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG).

This zelvoka is of particular significance due to its rarity as an exotic specimen and because it likely originated from the founding USBG collection gathered during the United States Exploring Expedition (also known as the Wilkes Expedition) from 1838-1842.

This tree was preserved during the redesign and implementation of Union Square by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., a member of the McMillan Commission, from 1901 through the 1930s and during the installation of the Capitol Reflecting Pool in the 1970s.