Plant Library

Other Names:  Chinese Elm, Lacebark Elm

Description:

A beautiful semi-evergreen shade or street tree for distinguished landscapes, with a spreading canopy and stunning mottled bark in brown, gray and orange, very attractive in winter; fall colors of red, purple, or yellow; evergreen in warmer regions

Ornamental Features

Drake Elm has dark green deciduous foliage on a tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. The small glossy pointy leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. The mottled brown bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Drake Elm is a deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Drake Elm is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Shade

Planting & Growing

Drake Elm will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 50 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.