Ulmus parvifolia
Lacebark (Chinese) Elm
Mature Size, Growth, Longevity
Average mature size of 40-50' tall & wide. Can occasionally grow to 70' by 60'. Habit can be rounded w/ pendulous branches, or upright-spreading, or vase-shaped like American Elm. Medium to fast growth rate depending on soil moisture & fertility levels.
Native Range
Species native to northern & central China, Korea, Japan, & Taiwan. Introduced 1794.
Flower and Fruit Details
Flowers are inconspicuous, light reddish-green, appearing in axillary clusters during August-September, essentially masked by the foliage. Fruits are elliptic-ovate, wafer-like samaras, 0.33" long, glabrous, notched at apex, seed in middle, ripening in September-October.
Leaf and Bark Features
Deciduous: Leaves are small (parvifolia means "small foliage"), simple, alternate, 3/4-2 1/2" long & 1/3-1 1/3" wide, lustrous dark green on top, pubescent beneath when young, becoming somewhat leathery, ovate/elliptic/ovate-obovate in shape. Leaves w/ 10-12 vein pairs, serrated around the margin, w/ a 1/4-1/2" petiole. Yellowish & reddish purple fall color, usually not outstanding but appears to be better on southern grown trees than northern grown. Leaves hold late in the fall. Notable Bark: Young stems very fine textured. Older bark is magnificent, often a beautiful mottled combination of light gray, dark gray, green, cream, orange, silver, tan & brown. Exfoliating in irregular patches, exposing lighter bark beneath. Trunks sometimes fluted.
Culture and Care
Easily transplanted. Adaptable to extremes of pH & soil types, but best growth is achieved in moist, well-drained, fertile soils. Shows excellent urban tolerance, & should be considered for urban areas. Zones 5(4)-9. Needs full sun. Cold hardiness varies w/ seed source. Tolerates wet or dry sites, drought, clay soil, & air pollution. Shows considerable resistance to Dutch elm disease, elm leaf beetles & Japanese beetles.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts
4-season interest: Spring, summer, fall & winter. Author & plantsman, Dr Michael A. Dirr, calls this an "excellent, tough, durable tree for about any situation". Do not confuse this w/ a much inferior tree, Ulmus pumila (Siberian Elm), which is often called "Chinese Elm".
Suggested Uses
Makes a good specimen, shade tree or street tree. Good for use in urban areas.
Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA
The following taxa are (or were) represented in the collections at Boone County Arboretum. Additional taxa may be available in the trade that are not included here.
Ulmus parvifolia 'Allee' // Allee Lacebark (Chinese) Elm
Tree. Habit is upright-spreading, often resembling that of the American Elm. Gets 70' tall and 60' wide. Exfoliating bark reveals light gray/dark gray/green/orange/tan/brown colors in patches. The trunk is also flecked w/ burnt-orange, corkish lenticels. The bark exfoliates first at the base, then works upward, producing a puzzle-like pattern of colors. Even surface roots & the upper, 1-2" size branches exfoliate their bark. The trunk is irregularly fluted instead of being round. The dense, dark green, lustrous foliage is borne heavily at the ends of fine-textured branches, which creates a dense canopy. Very resistant to drought, DED disease & elm leaf beetle. Has also been sold as 'Emer II' & 'Emerald Vase'.
BT001113Ulmus parvifolia 'D. B. Cole' // D. B. Cole Lacebark (Chinese) Elm
Tree. Smaller growing than the species, w/ a dense head. Quite bushy, rounded in outline. Leaves are lustrous, dark green, offering a tinge of red color in the fall. Exfoliating bark on fluted trunks. Resistant to Dutch Elm Disease and phloem necrosis. Selected by Cole Nursery Company of Circleville, Ohio in the 1970's.
-- not currently in our collection --