Scientific Name
Ulmus parvifolia
Ulmaceae
Characteristics
Commonly called Chinese Elm or Lacebark Elm is a medium-sized deciduous tree that typically grows up to 50 feet tall with a rounded crown and long pendulous branching. It is native to China, Korea, and Japan. Flowers give way to single-seeded wafer-like samaras (each tiny seed is surrounded by a flattened circular papery wing) that mature in fall. Shiny dark green leaves 3 inches long, have small teeth. Leaves typically turn an undistinguished dull yellow in fall, but sometimes produce more interesting yellows or reddish-purple. One of the most ornamental features of this tree is its mottled bark. On mature trees, bark flakes to reveal patches of:
- Brown
- Cream
- Gray
- Green
- Orange