Chinese Elm Ulmus parvifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Chinese Elm:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ULM-us par-vi-FO-li-ah
- Description
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Chinese elm is a woody, deciduous, shade tree in the elm family (Ulmaceae) and native to China, Korea and Japan. It has an upright habit and grows quickly to 40 to 50 feet tall and wide.
It requires full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, though it will tolerate moist sites. It adapts to a variety of soil textures and pH. Seed is the best way to propagate Chinese elm. It resists Japanese beetles, elm leaf beetles and Dutch elm disease.
Seasonal interest is provided by showy leaves, exfoliating bark, and colorful fall foliage. There is great variability among seedlings, and there are many cultivars available. Songbirds are attracted to this tree.
Chinese elm is recommended as a specimen or shade tree in a lawn, recreational play area and children’s or winter gardens, However, avoid planting it near structures. Its low wind resistance causes branches to break. Its moderate salt tolerance makes it a good choice for coastal gardens. Chinese Elm makes a shade-resistant street or urban tree that is resistant to Dutch elm disease and air pollution. Unfortunately, it has very low wind resistance and has the potential to be weedy through self-seeding in surrounding landscapes. Please consider planting the NC native alternatives listed on the left side of this page. It is also used in bonsai..
Quick ID Hints:
- The bark is lacy, exfoliating and in shades of brown, tan, olive, and cinnamon.
- Inverted pins bear leaves.
- The leaves are simple, alternate, glossy dark green, smooth upper surface and hairy on the lower surface.
- Leaves are asymmetrical and have parallel veins.
- Leaves are coriaceous, persisting, medium to very small.
- It blooms in late summer in clusters.
- Fruits are samara, elliptic to ovate with the seed in the center.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Its propensity to self-seed may cause it to be weedy in surrounding landscapes.The wood is weak and branches can break when stressed with wind, snow or ice. It occasionally experiences disease problems like wilts, rots, cankers and leaf spots.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Bonsai Garden in Davidson County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Allee'
arching branches, upright vase habit, 50 feet tall, and 35 feet wide - 'Athena'
- 'Bosque'
pyramidal-columnar, ascending branches, 45 feet tall, and 30 feet wide - 'Drake'
- 'Everclear'
- 'Frosty'
tree or shrub, up to 8 feet tall, small green leaves edged with white or completely white - 'Golden Ray'
- 'Hakkaido'
dwarf shrub, small, leathery leaves - 'Seiju'
dwarf, slow growing, 2 to 10 feet tall with tiny leaves and corky bark as it matures
- 'Allee'
- 'Allee', 'Athena', 'Bosque', 'Drake', 'Emer 11', 'Everclear', 'Frosty', 'Golden Ray', 'Hakkaido', 'Seiju'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Allee'
arching branches, upright vase habit, 50 feet tall, and 35 feet wide - 'Athena'
- 'Bosque'
pyramidal-columnar, ascending branches, 45 feet tall, and 30 feet wide - 'Drake'
- 'Everclear'
- 'Frosty'
tree or shrub, up to 8 feet tall, small green leaves edged with white or completely white - 'Golden Ray'
- 'Hakkaido'
dwarf shrub, small, leathery leaves - 'Seiju'
dwarf, slow growing, 2 to 10 feet tall with tiny leaves and corky bark as it matures
- 'Allee'
- 'Allee', 'Athena', 'Bosque', 'Drake', 'Emer 11', 'Everclear', 'Frosty', 'Golden Ray', 'Hakkaido', 'Seiju'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ulmus
- Species:
- parvifolia
- Family:
- Ulmaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Immature fruits have been used raw or cooked.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern to Central China, Japan, and Korea
- Play Value:
- Shade
- Textural
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a light brown, oblong, flattened, and papery winged samara that measures about 0.5 inches long. The fruit appears in the fall and may last through early winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Male and female flowers on the same tree are insignificant and reddish green in late spring, summer, or fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are dark green, simple, alternate, elliptic to obovate, and measure 1 to 2.5 inches long and 0.5 to 1.5 inches wide. They are serrate, acute to sub acuminate, weakly asymmetrical at the base to oblique, lateral veins parallel, each one ending in a tooth, and the lower surface has minute hairy tufts in the vein axils. The upper surface is glossy, and the lower surface is paler. Fall foliage color ranges from green, yellow, purple, or red.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- The bark is exfoliating in irregular patterns, mottled, exposing lighter bark below. The irregular patterns appear in shades of brown, tan, gray, olive, and cinnamon.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Description:
- Stems bearing inverted pins. Buds are small, ellipsoidal, blunt, scales brown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Insect Pests
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weak Wood
- Weedy
