Ulmus chenmoui ‘JAB Morton’
I am excited to tell you about a new tree, the Summer Elixir® elm, Ulmus chenmoui ‘JAB Morton’. It is a small to medium size maturing elm tree, quite different from the large American and European elms we are more familiar with. In youth, it grows fast but appears to mature at a smaller size, with summer red-tipped leaves and a rusty red fall color. As it ages, the crown begins to round over, providing a lovely broad canopy. Although some of the Chenmoui seedlings can become relatively large, this tree appears to mature at a smaller size of about 35 feet tall by 30 feet wide. Like all elms, it is tough and drought tolerant, and the genus is known to have a high resistance to Dutch Elm Disease.
This tree is special to us because it was discovered at Urban Forest Nursery, Inc. approximately 20 years ago. It was selected in the field from several Ulmus chenmoui seedlings. These seedlings were provided by Dr. George Ware of the Morton Arboretum in Chicago, Illinois. At the time, Dr. Ware was collecting and evaluating elms from all over the world, and we offered to evaluate some of them for him. He told me that the tree originates from Chenmou or the Langya Mountains in China. It is at least a Zone 6 species, having survived well at the Morton Arboretum in Chicago.
Leaf shape is typical of elm – ovate to elliptical, often asymmetrical at the base, with one side of the leaf extending farther down the petiole than the other. I observed the leaves slightly cupping and forming a very dense canopy. A subtle red tint appears on new leaves in mid- to late summer over the top of the crown. Fall color provides a warm yellow to rusty hue, similar to the American ash – which we no longer plant because of the Asian Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis). As the tree matures, the bark becomes mottled, gray, stringy, and furrowed.
This elm prefers well-drained, organic soils but will likely perform well in a wide range of soil types and moisture levels. It also appears to transplant easily, supported by a relatively aggressive root system that matches its early crown growth.
Summer Elixir® elm is now commercially available in landscape sizes from many Pacific Northwest Nurseries, including J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., where it is propogated and promoted. It is certainly worth planting if you are looking for a smaller, broad-canopy tree in a tough location. Let me know if you have questions about this tree or if you have already tried it.
As always, let me know your experience with this tree.
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Jim Barborinas
Owner of Urban Forest Nursery, Inc.
ISA Certified Arborist #0135
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #356
15119 McLean Rd.
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
jim@urbanforestnursery.com