The Camperdown Elms, Ulmus ’Camperdownii,’ have been a campus landmark for around 100 years. They are most prominently seen along Campus Drive, but also can be found in the Arboretum and Botanical Garden. From the 04 December 2001 Argonaut student newspaper: ‘These trees are often described as “upside down trees” because their weeping branches and knotty trunk are formed by being grafted upwards. Normally, the Camperdown elm grows along the ground like a bush. For the trees to grow upright, they must be grafted along the bark. The ones at UI are grafted with regular wild elm from the ground up to about four feet.’

Sources

UA 1987-17, 1970s; today photo by UI Library Special Collections staff.