Lacebark Elm Tree

Availability: Out of stock
SKU
430

Pretty and Tough Shade Tree Lacebark Elm

  • Patterned Bark
  • Nicely Rounded Canopy
  • Fast-Growing
  • Tolerates Poor Soil
  • Pest and Disease Resistant
  • Loved by Birds and Butterflies

If you need a tough shade tree that performs beautifully all year long, Lacebark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) is up to the task. With its lovely, intricately patterned bark and attractive canopy - Lacebark Elm makes a wonderful lawn tree. The popularity of this tree has continued to grow since the 1970s.

It's also rugged and highly resistant to that awful Dutch Elm disease. It can tolerate a wide variety of soils. It's tolerant of periodic drought, if planted in well-drained soil.

This durable, attractive tree is well-known across the country by the name "Chinese Elm". Actually, several different kinds of trees are called "Chinese Elm."

This tree - Lacebark Elm - is an attractive tree with lovely bark. It is NOT the invasive Siberian Elm. Unfortunately, both of these trees are commonly known as Chinese Elm. The kind you want is Ulmus parvifolia, and that is the kind Nature Hills sells.

Did you know? All of our customers are protected against invasive species and diseases because we use an online system called Plant Sentry. We follow every single federal, state and local regulation.

People love the fast growth rate and spreading habit of the Lacebark Elm, along with its ability to tolerate harsh conditions. So don't worry. Even if you don't have the greenest of thumbs, you'll love the delicious shade cast by the dark green leaves. This shade tree is prized in areas where challenges exist for other popular tree varieties, such as in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Lacebark handles heat like a champ. It's best known for the patterned brown-gray bark that gives a lot of visual interest all year long. Known as "exfoliating", the mottled bark grows in a very distinctive way, exposing different layers. You may see green and orange in the layers. It's a fascinating display!

The long, arching branches and rounded form of the Lacebark Elm create a sophisticated silhouette in your outdoor living space. In summer, the Elm's foliage fills the tree out nicely, with its glossy, serrated leaves casting a deep green shade. When fall arrives, the green leaves transform into fall colors of purple and yellow to add a brilliant look to your autumn landscape.

If you're looking for a shade tree that can withstand harsh conditions, is fast-growing and has ornamental features, then look no further. Lacebark Elm is the perfect choice for you. Order today!

How to Use Lacebark Elm in the Landscape

This deciduous shade tree is a timeless classic that adds to your property value from the minute you plant it in the ground.

Growers love the Lacebark Elm, not just because it grows to a stately height and has a regal countenance to it. They praise it for its ease of growth and minimal need for maintenance, since it thrives in even the harshest of growing conditions.

It's fast becoming a common sight in urban plantings, where its tolerance for pollution has been widely documented. It's not unusual to see a Lacebark Elm being used in parking lots or as municipal street trees. You'll know how tough this tree is with these conditions!

Local birds and butterflies also appreciate this tree for both nesting and as a food source. Add a bird feeder or two to bring even more birds to your yard. You'll love watching for them and listening to their calls.

We recommend placing the tree where you'll get a chance to enjoy the interesting bark. The exfoliating bark of this Elm variety reveals a mottled motif with colors of red, tan, green and grey, giving it an enchanting presentation. Why not string up a hammock underneath the wide-spreading branches? Add a small table to hold your lemonade (or gin and tonic, if you prefer...) and relax!

If you want to use it as a street tree, plant them 20 feet apart. Measure from the trunk of one to the trunk of the next.

#ProPlantTips for Care

The Lacebark Elm is highly resistant to Dutch Elm disease and Elm Leaf Beetle, giving it an edge over other varieties. Of course, it's also valued for its general hardiness and ability to grow in a variety of conditions.

It does prefer well-drained soil and will display drought tolerance in that condition.

Give ample space for this tree. It will grow quickly and will develop a large root system, as required to support this large tree. Give it plenty of room to grow into the mature size listed in the Plant Highlights. If you are interested in learning more about large tree root systems like this one, check out our blog!

This beautiful tree is capable of growing 30 feet in the first 5 years. The ultimate full size of the Lace Bark Elm is greatly influenced by the amount of irrigation it receives.

In lawns, expect the tree to go full size within 10 to 15 years. In locations where water is regulated, the tree's ultimate sizes can be 25 to 30% smaller.

Because of this fast growth rate, pruning and staking are recommended in the first few years to ensure a straight trunk and a balanced canopy. Add an Arbor Springs tree kit to your order.

The Lacebark takes to pruning well. Prune in late fall to open up the canopy and shape the canopy, as desired.

Considered in many climates zones to be semi-evergreen, the Lace Bark Elm will only briefly drop leaves in the colder months. In Zones 9 and 10, the tree keeps some leaves on year-round.

The Lacebark Elm tree is always in high demand, place your order today!

Buying Options for Plants

Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.

Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!

Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.

  • Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc.
  • Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc.

Nature Hills Container Size by Volume

Keep in mind, specific varieties and different growing conditions can affect the rate at which plants grow. Variations in size may occur.

Young Plants to 18 Months
Size Volume
2"x2"x3" Ranges from .18 to .21 dry quarts / .198 to .23 dry liters in volume
4.5" Container Equal to .65 dry quart / .72 dry liter in volume
Sprinter Pot Equal to .63 dry quart / .69 dry liter in volume
4" Container Ranges from .31 to .87 / .35 to .96 dry liter in volume
6" Container Equal to 1.4 dry quarts / 1.59 dry liters in volume
1 Quart Equal to 1 dry quart / 1.1 dry liter in volume
5.5" Container Equal to 1.89 of a dry quart / 2.08 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x5" Ranges from .8 to 1.1 dry quarts / .88 to 1.2 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x6" Ranges from 1.0 to 1.3 dry quarts / 1.1 to 1.41 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x9" Ranges from 1.1 to 2.1 dry quarts / 1.2 to 2.3 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x10" Ranges from 1.7 to 2.3 dry quart / 1.87 to 2.53 dry liters in volume
Plants 18 Months - 2.5 Years Old
Size Volume
2 Quart Equal to 2 dry quarts / 2.2 dry liters in volume
#1 Container Ranges from 2.26 to 3.73 dry quarts / 2.49 to 4.11 dry liters in volume
5"x5"x12" Equal to 3.5 to 4.3 dry quarts / 3.85 to 4.74 dry liters in volume
Plants 2 - 4 Years Old
Size Volume
#2 Container Ranges from 1.19 to 1.76 dry gallons / 5.24 to 7.75 dry liters in volume
#3 Container Ranges from 2.32 to 2.76 dry gallons / 10.22 to 12.16 dry liters in volume
Plants 3 - 5 Years Old
Size Volume
#5 Container Ranges from 2.92 to 4.62 dry gallons / 12.86 to 20.35 dry liters in volume
#6 Container Ranges from 5.25 to 6.01 dry gallons / 23.12 to 26.42 dry liters in volume
#7 Container Ranges from 5.98 to 6.08 dry gallons / 26.34 to 26.78 dry liters in volume

About Plant Sentry™

Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.

This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

Click Here to learn more

Plant Sentry

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.
Color Zone Times
3 Spring 2019
4 Now
5 Now
6 Now
7 Now
8 Now
9 Now
10 Now
11 Now

Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From To S&H
0 - 19.99 24.99
20 - 49.99 29.99
50 - 69.99 34.99
70 - 99.99 39.99
100 - 129.99 44.99
130 - 149.99 48.99
150 - 150+ Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

PLANT HIGHLIGHTS

Lacebark Elm Tree Is Suited to Grow in Zones 5-10
Growing Zones 5-10
More Information
Brand Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name Ulmus parvifolia
Type Deciduous
Mature Height 40 - 50 feet
Mature Spread 40 - 50 feet
Sun Exposure Full Sun
Soil Widely Adaptable
Moisture Low Once Established
Growth Rate Fast
Flower Color Reddish Green
Foliage Deciduous
Foliage Color Green
Fall Color Yellow, Burgundy / Purple
Pollinator Friendly Yes
Pruning Time When Dormant