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Re: [Fwd: Majordomo results: Elm Trees]

In a message dated 98-06-23 19:41:04 EDT, you write:

>> Am looking for a catalog source for elm trees  (Siberian -- but not
> "Chinese").  Live in s.w. Kansas -- a rather inhospitable climate for
> trees -- and Chinese elms are prevalent (and scraggly) here.
> Wanting to buy at least two or more elms --  what are "lace bark elms"
> like?  Am needing large trees, that grow fairly rapidly.  thought about
> the "aussie trees" - but understand they do not provide much shade --
> are actually used quite a bit for rural windbreaks.
> thanks....
> Carol   (zone 5,  semi-arid,  alkaline soil) >>

Carol,

Lacebark Elm and Chinese Elm are one and the same.  Both of those are common
names for  Ulmus parvifolia.  The name "Lacebark" was given to describe the
beautiful, lacy bark and to distinguish it from the much inferior Ulmus pumila
(Siberian Elm) which is often sold in the nursery trade wrongly labeled
"Chinese Elm".  In other words, Chinese Elm got a bad rap because it was
confused in the trade with Siberian Elm, and so a new common name "Lacebark
Elm" was suggested to avoid further confusion.  

I don't know whether nurseries intentionally sold Siberian Elms as Chinese
Elms because they were stuck with stock they could not sell, or if it was
honest confusion.  
But the mislabeling was widespread.  The leaves of both trees are similar, and
the distinguishing bark of Chinese/Lacebark Elm develops as the trees mature
so it would be easy enough to confuse the two when they are young. 

Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila) has little ornamental value.  They do grow fast,
but  the habit is open so they are not great for shade.  The wood is brittle
so the branches break, foliage is bug eaten, they are messy and, yes,
scraggly.  One of their few merits is that they are resistant to Dutch Elm
disease.  

On the other hand,  the true Chinese Elm, Ulmus parvifolia, is an excellent,
beautiful tree.  Their habit is graceful.  They are tough, disease resistant,
and leaves are resistant to insect damage. They are medium to fast growing.
In Kansas tests they grew a foot and a half per year over a ten year period.
They prefer moist, fertile soil, but are adaptable to pH extremes and very
tolerant of poor soil. They are hardy in zones 4-9.  But their best feature is
that magnificant,  mottled,  brown, green, gray and orange bark!  

I would be willing to bet that those "scraggly" "Chinese" Elms you see growing
in Kansas are actually Siberian Elms (Ulmus pumila).  Not only are Siberian
Elms scraggly in Kansas, I think they are scraggly everywhere, except maybe
Siberia.
Do those trees have multi-colored, lacy, mottled bark?  If not, they are most
likely Siberian Elms.  I think a real Chinese Elm might be an excellent choice
for you.

I do not know of a mail order source.  I recommend buying trees from a local
grower so they will be acclimated to your local climate and soil.  If that is
not possible,  perhaps someone else on the list can recommend a mail order
source.  If you do decide to buy Lacebark Elms, be sure you buy them from a
reputable source so you know you are getting the right trees!  I would ask for
it by scientific name, Ulmus parvifolia, and use the common name Lacebark Elm
so it is clear what you want. It used to be named Ulmus parviflora but those
darned taxonomists who keep changing plant names on us changed the species to
parvifolia.  As if this species needed even more confusion!  

 --Janis
Webster Groves, MO
Zone 6
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