154-year-old elm tree in downtown Portland to be cut down

An elm tree that’s been growing in downtown Portland since about 1870 will be removed by the city over safety concerns.

Known officially as Heritage Tree #1 , the elm at 1111 SW 10th Ave. has seen Portland grow from a city of about 90,000 people to a metropolis of over half a million. It was planted in front of the home of Rosetta Burrell, “a notable figure” and “prominent social reformer” of the time, according to Portland Parks and Recreation.

Portland became one of the first cities to include a tree on a historic register in 1975 when the elm was approved by the city’s Historical Landmarks Commission, and it was listed as the first Heritage Tree when the program was launched in 1993.

“It’s a credit to Rosa Burrell and marks the moment when we stopped being ‘Stumptown’ and started being a tree town,” said Heritage Tree historian David-Paul B. Hedberg.

Photo courtesy of Portland Parks & Recreation

Severe weather in January damaged the tree, causing it to lose about a third of its canopy, officials said. Arborists and other experts developed a plan to keep the tree going, but another major branch failed on Saturday, July 20, further depleting its canopy. That which remains is “stressed and unhealthy” and “the tree is not demonstrating the ability to withstand new stressors and reduced leaf area,” the parks department said.

“This decision was not made lightly. Our priority is always public safety and the health of our urban forest,” said Portland Parks and Recreation Director Adena Long.

The Urban Foresty team will cut the tree down in early August. They will plant a replacement in 2025.