A golden elm on congested Punt Road is Melbourne's most emailed tree, with motorists using a council-run website to thank it for brightening their day.

Melbourne's trees have received more than 3,000 emails from all over the world since the launch of the Urban Forest Visual website in 2013.

The website maps each of the City of Melbourne's more than 77,000 trees, colour-coding them according to age and health and assigning each a number and email address.

Councillor Arron Wood said the program was implemented after a 13-year drought put much of the council's urban forest in "a state of severe decline".

The email addresses were originally designed as a method for the public to notify council if they noticed a tree suffering damage or disease, but people took to emailing the trees to tell them how much they like them.

"I love the idea of it not being the City of Melbourne's urban forest but it actually being Melburnians' urban forest," Mr Wood told 774 ABC Melbourne's Richard Stubbs.

"Some of these trees have been here for hundreds of years."

The program has recently gained international attention with coverage on the BBC, Huffington Post and the UK's Daily Telegraph.

The popular golden elm (tree ID 1028612) is on the corner of Punt Road and Alexandra Avenue, across the road from the Yarra River, and is passed by thousands of motorists every day.

Many of the emails the tree has received are from those motorists.

Dear Tree If you are that big round beautiful low hanging tree I think you are my favourite tree. Such beauty on such an ugly road. Keep up the good work.

Hello dearest elm, Do you remember when I used to drive past you and say hello? Why did they ever trim your canopy? Remember how your branches used to spread across the soil? It was glorious.

It is also near the popular "Tan" running track that circles Melbourne's Botanical Gardens, making it a daily feature for many fitness fanatics.

You are my favourite tree, even when you make me stoop over during my morning run when you grow too big. Love M

The tree is listed as a tree of state significance by the National Trust and is at least 70 years old.

It was planted in 1938, but its age is unknown since it is uncertain as to whether it was planted as a sapling or as a mature tree.

I used to think you were the Magic Faraway Tree when I was a child. Now that I'm an adult, I still look forward to seeing you as I come around the bend after a tedious crawl down Hoddle Street. A loyal friend always there waiting to say hello.

The tree has grown so large it takes up nearly all of the small council reserve in which it grows.

You are my favourite tree in all of Melbourne! Even if you do need a little bit of help under that great leafy canopy... C

The City of Melbourne's Urban Forest team sometimes sends replies to emails on behalf of the tree.

Dear C, So lovely to be appreciated. I am lucky to be well looked after. Some other people have documented how special I am, which you might like to check out: Best wishes, Your special Elm

You can email the golden elm, or any other tree in the City of Melbourne, via the Urban Forest Visual website.