Lacebark Elm, Chinese Elm         UL-mus par-vi-FO-li-a

• Broadleaf deciduous tree, 40-50 ft (12-15 m) tall, width somewhat less, dense habit, rounded, often with, pendulous branches, other forms upright.  Bark is somewhat smooth often with a mottled, flaking combination of gray, green, brown, and orange.  Leaves simple, alternate, 2-7 cm long, 0.8-4 cm wide, elliptic to ovate to obovate, unequal rounded at the base, usually simply serrate, glossy dark green and smooth above, pubescent below, (fall color varies from green (evergreen to semi-evergreen), yellow (usual), to red), petiole 0.6-1.3 cm.  Flowers in late summer in axillary clusters  Fruit (samara) about 1 cm long, elliptic-ovate, with a notch at the apex, seed in the center, may persist into early winter.  
• Sun.  Adaptable to soil and acidity, best in moist, well-drained, fertile soil.  Tolerant to urban conditions.  Resistant to Dutch elm disease.
• Be aware that the much inferior Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila) is sometimes sold as Chinese Elm.  The Lacebark Elm name was developed to distinguish Ulmus parvifolia from Ulmus pumila and to emphasize its attractive bark.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 5      Native to northern and central China, Japan, and Korea.
• Many cultivars and hybrids with considerable variation in form, Dirr (1998) gives descriptions of 28 and Jacobson (1996) lists 24.  A popular tree for bonsai.
• parvifolia: parvus, small, folium, leaf.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: on the west side and northeast corner of the Valley Library quad