Tree of the Week: The Chinese Elm

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.
Your Thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com
Photo Credit: Pieter Severynen

Comments

[sgv]

beautiful, but oh so messy. They are always either dropping leaves, or dropping pollen, or dripping sap. My last house was on a street that was lined with these beauties, and my paint job on my car is permanently scarred!

[NoCal SC]

And horribly allergenic. Die elms die.

[Bill]

We had them in La Canada, they are nothing but huge weeds. If the roots extend under any pavement or your floor slab, there will be major difficulties. Cutting down the tree AND removing the stump does not kill the roots, there will be fresh shoots emerging from your cracked pavement, etc.

[Peter I]

They give magnificent shade. I love them.

Sure, they make a bit of a mess, but it's not a year long one.

[don Hosek]

When I used to have a house in Claremont, there were a couple of these on the property. Awful awful awful. I wouldn't own a house with one of these on the property if you gave it to me for free.

Or actually, maybe I would, but I certainly wouldn't pay for a house with one on the property.

[dudeman1961]

EVIL, these trees ARE evil!!

Lose every leaf in fall, roots spread and do massive damage.

Tree of the week must have been chosen by Beelzebub.

[SKP123]

I love these trees. They give great shade and sway nicely in the wind. I have a 4 year old one in my front lawn to shade the house from the hot sun coming from the west. I selected the 'Drake" variety mainly because it is not as big as the old chinese elm, but slightly smaller and more weeping. I am also carefully pruning it as well. The roots can be a bad thing if you dont water it properly, as for most trees over 25 feet.

I wish all the complaining people would stop complaining so much about every plant lately. Yes, pretty much all plants have some problems, and alot of trees we see around alot are OLD trees planted many many years ago. They did not foresee alot of these problems when planted. Like for example planting them in the sidewalk planters, parking areas, cemented areas with very little watering basin etc. I love this blog because it gives us positives about trees we see around all the time.

[John]

Our Siberian elm was cut back severely a few years ago. Now it is growing outrageously. We have trimmed it (professionally, twice) but it is still out of control. We don't want to get rid of it so...what? It is producing a great number of sprouts off the trunk.

Help!

[Brad]

I have 2 huge chinese elms in my backyard and they are messy year round, but are great shade trees and majestic. Within the last week 2 large branches from the top just broke off the main trunk. They don't seem to me the biggest branches, yet they fell. I trim myself but never get up that high (50'). Could this be diseased? I'm concerned more may fall, and one extends over a good portion of my house. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Malcolm]

I believe that most of the people talking about how bad the Chinese Elm is are referring to the Siberian Elm.... A completely different tree and one that has been noted to exhibit all the symptoms described above.

[Ron]

I purchased 40 acres in nothern Arizona. It is in the high desert with an average of 5 inches of rain /yr. and high winds (avg. 15 and gusts to 60) all the time... I go up to the property once a month and water them. They have grown 3-4 ft. in less than a yr. and seem to be doing great. Can someone tell me the best time to trim? And what is the best food for them?

Thanks,
Ron

[Ellen]

Chinese Elms are beautiful, amazing trees. My childhood home in San Diego has an enormous one planted in the perfect location (it has a large circle around it). It is at least 65 years old and doing well. They are the perfect tree for climbing.