Chinese Elm
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 Chinese Elm leaves, July
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| Ulmus parvifolia Jacq. |
The Chinese Elm Ulmus parvifolia is a species of elm native to China, Japan, North Korea and Vietnam. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous, semi-deciduous (rarely semi-evergreen) tree growing to 10-18 m tall with a slender trunk and crown. The leathery, lustrous green single-toothed leaves are small, 2-5 cm long by 1-3 cm broad, and often retained as late as December or even January in Europe and North America. The flowers are produced in early autumn, small and inconspicuous, with the seed maturing rapidly and dispersing by late autumn.
[edit] Cultivation and uses
The tree was introduced to Europe at the end of the 18th century as an ornamental, and can still be found in many botanical gardens and arboreta. In the United States, it appeared in the middle of the 19th century, and has proved popular in recent years as a replacement for American Elms killed by Dutch elm disease. The Chinese Elm is a tough landscape tree, hardy enough for use in harsh planting situations such as parking lots, in small planters along streets and in plazas or patios. In New Zealand, it was found to be particularly suitable for windswept locations along the coast. Scarring from major branch loss can lead to large canker-like wounds, but otherwise the trunk has a handsome, flaking bark of mottled greys with tans and reds, giving rise to its other common name, the Lacebark Elm.
Numerous cultivars have been selected, mostly in North America, although many are dwarfs and miniatures raised specifically for patios and bonsai resp. (see Elm species, varieties, cultivars and hybrids for a complete listing.)
[edit] External links
The Status of Elms in the Nursery Industry in 2000, by Warren, K., and Schmidt, J. Frank & Son Co. (2002).
[edit] References
- Bean, W. J. (1981). Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain, 7th edition. Murray, London.
- Fu, L., Xin, Y. & Whittemore, A. (2002). Ulmaceae, in Wu, Z. & Raven, P. (eds) Flora of China, Vol. 5 (Ulmaceae through Basellaceae). Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, USA. [1]
- White, J & More, D. (2003). Trees of Britain & Northern Europe. Cassell's, London.
- U. parvifolia fact sheet at Virginia Polytechnic Institute
