Tree of the Week: The Chinese Elm

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Good morning. It’s threatening to be a gloomy one on the Westside, but I’m sure it will burn off soon. Without further ado, Pieter Severynen’s Tree of the Week:

The Chinese Elm – Ulmus parvifolia

Few trees can take the place of the millions of magnificent American elm (Ulmus americana) trees that used to grace streets in large parts of North America but fell victim to Dutch Elm disease or suffered from elm yellows (phloem necrosis), shallow rooting, branch drop, and other major problems. The Chinese or Lacebark elm tree lacks the stateliness and large green leaves of the American elm, and it that sense is not a perfect replacement. But it is a graceful, easy to grow, dependable and normally pest-free tree in the southern half of the U.S. and on the West Coast.

Fast-growing to 40 to 60 feet and as wide or wider, the Chinese elm is semi-evergreen or almost so, depending on variety and temperature. Careful shaping in youth is a must. Form is variable, usually spreading, with long, arching branches and weeping branchlets. The light grey or tan bark on the sturdy trunk sheds in small patches to reveal a beautifully mottled pattern of orange reddish to light brown colors. The small, leathery, dark green, toothed, ¾ to 2½ inch long leaves have pronounced veins and asymmetrical bases (one side lower or wider than the other). The little green flowers in spring are insignificant, turn into tiny samaras, winged fruits, in fall. The tree will take pollution, poor or compacted soils, low soil moisture, freezing cold, strong winds, and overpruning, but it prefers more amenable conditions. Planted too close to paving, it will heave sidewalks and driveways. Many cultivars (cultivated varieties) of different shapes and sizes are available in the nursery. Some of those are favorite bonsai subjects.

Forty-five species of elms are indigenous to temperate zones of North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa. The Chinese elm’s homeland is North and Central China, Korea and Japan. It was introduced in the U.S. in 1794. The Chinese elm is sometimes mistakenly called Siberian elm and vice versa. But the Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila, is an undesirable and inferior tree, bearing no resemblance to its Chinese cousin.

Thanks, Pieter.
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Photo Credit: Pieter Severynen