A selection of Chinese elm grown for a more upright, uniform shape. It has the same flaking, mottled bark and fast growth as the standard evergreen elm, but a narrower oval to pyramidal crown that fits closer to the house, along drives and in tighter yards.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the tree schedule in our Landscape Care guide. Like other Chinese elms, it is not a desert tree. Keep water steady from spring through early fall; dry spells in summer brown the leaf edges.
Pruning
Its strong central leader is the main appeal, so protect it while the tree is young and remove any competing tops. Beyond that, raise the lower limbs over time for clearance.
Leaf drop
Expect more fall color and winter leaf drop than with the standard evergreen elm, especially after a cold spell.
Pests and disease
It resists Dutch elm disease and elm leaf beetle. As with other elms, Texas root rot is possible.
How our designers use it
Narrower spaces
Our designers choose it over the standard evergreen elm where a broad, spreading canopy would crowd the house or a neighbor.
Drives and property lines
Planted in a row, its uniform shape makes a clean, formal line.
Shade near the house
Its upright habit gives shade to a patio or west wall without branches sweeping the roof.
Good to know
Around the pool
Small leaves and papery seeds drop through fall and winter and collect in pools and filters. Keep the canopy back from the water.
