Lacebark Elm

Arbor walk #5, Treekeeper ID #3495

The Lacebark Elm is a large elm native to China that is known for its intricate bark and durable wood. It has strong resistance to the deadly Dutch Elm Disease, making it an ideal planting or hybridization target. In addition to its beautiful mottled bark, it has lustrous dark green leaves that turn yellowish in the fall.

Common Name	Lacebark Elm, Chinese Elm
Latin Name	Ulmus parvifolia
Indigenous Name(s)
Cultivar/Variety
Commercial Name

Global Distribution

Where to find Arbor Walk #5 on WashU campus

Our Lacebark Elm in space

GPS Coordinates

N/A

Percent Concrete

N/A

Distance to Buildings

Year	Close Building #1	Close Building #2	Close Building #3
2020	Knight Executive Education & Conference Center, 1.88 m	Knight Hall, 14.49 m	Bauer Hall, 14.94 m

Distance to Other Species

Year	Close Species #1	Close Species # 2	Close Species # 3
2020	Seven-Son Flower, 7.91 m	English Oak, 19.45 m	Seven-Son Flower, 22.12 m

Our Lacebark Elm through time

Standard Measurements

Year	Height (m)	DBH (cm)	Caliper (m)	Crown Diameter N-S (m)	Crown Diameter E-W (m)	Average Crown Diameter (m)
2020	11.6886	20.5	N/A	9.14	8.61	8.875
2023	14.5	27	N/A	14.43	12.07	13.25

Nests and Pests

Year	Description
2020	Fall webworm (6 nests) 1 songbird nest Very peeled bark, orange ‘lenticels’ protruding throughout and concentrated in certain areas One large ‘reddish’ stain One large dark brown stain (looks rotten)

How to identify a Lacebark Elm

Leaf Identification

The leaves of the Lacebark Elm are 3/4″ to 2 1/2″ long with an asymmetrical shape and base. They are a lustrous dark green and turn yellow in the fall.

Leaf of Arbor Walk #5
Underside of Leaf from Arbor Walk #5
Leaf (Fall) of Arbor Walk #5

Twig and Bud Identification

The twigs are light green maturing to brown, and are pubescent, as are the leaf petioles (leafstalks). The buds are football-shaped with light brown scales.

Twigs of Arbor Walk #5
Twig of Arbor Walk #5
Bud of Arbor Walk #5

Bark Identification

The Lacebark Elm has exfoliating, mottled bark. It is dotted with orange-brown, especially along scale lines.

Bark of Arbor Walk #5

Fruit Identification

The fruit of the Lacebark Elm is a samara (winged papery seed cover), which matures in the fall to a brown color.

[photo forthcoming]

Flower Identification

The flowers of the Lacebark Elm are inconspicuous and red-green. The Lacebark Elm is monoecious (both male and female flowers on the same tree), and the flowers directly precede the samaras, appearing in summer or early fall.