Little-Known Elms from China: Landscape Tree Possibilities

Abstract

Elms from China offer good possibilities as urban trees because of good levels of disease resistance, stress tolerance, and aesthetic appeal. Success in obtaining seeds of little-known elm species has made possible the assembling of a large collection of elms at the Morton Arboretum. Assessment of the potential of these elms as urban trees is proceeding. Some of the elms from China are producing flowers, giving opportunities for hybridization. Several recently received species are new to North America, with arboricultural qualities and urban-use potential virtually unknown. Descriptive information has been obtained from a translated monograph on elms of China.