True Green Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia 'True Green')

True Green Chinese Elm

15 Gallon

$229.00

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True Green Chinese Elm

Ulmus parvifolia 'True Green'

A graceful semi-evergreen tree with a weeping habit, attractive exfoliating bark, and lush dark green foliage, ideal for shade.

$229.00

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Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

Ulmus parvifolia 'True Green' is a stately, semi-evergreen tree prized for its graceful, rounded, weeping habit, attractive exfoliating bark, and lush, dark green foliage. This superior selection is more reliably evergreen than other cultivars, holding its deep green leaves through winter in milder climates. The tree is renowned for its beautiful, mottled bark that peels away in puzzle-piece patterns, revealing a mosaic of gray, green, orange, and tan. In colder weather, the dark green, small, oval, serrated leaves may turn attractive shades of golden-yellow and rust-red before dropping. Fast-growing, adaptable, and drought-tolerant once established, it is an outstanding choice for a shade tree, specimen, or street tree in a wide range of climates, particularly in the southern United States.

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

A larger gallon size generally means:
- A more established root system
- A sturdier plant
- Faster visual impact after planting
Example:
- 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity
- 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.

🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

Commonly used for:
- Ornamental trees
- Feature plants
- Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.
Why choose Multi:
- Fuller, more sculptural appearance
- Strong visual presence even at younger ages
- Popular for design-focused landscapes

🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

Commonly used for:
- Shade trees
- Street trees
- Orchard and structural plantings
Why choose Stand:
- Clean, classic tree form
- Easier clearance for walkways and lawns
- Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity

🌿 Choosing the Right Size

If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form
If you want long-term structure → Stand form
If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Foliage & Bark: Small, oval, serrated, dark green leaves (semi-evergreen; may turn gold/rust in cold weather); exfoliating bark peeling in puzzle-piece patterns of gray, green, orange, and tan.
Mature Height: 40-50 ft
Mature Spread: 30-40 ft
Growth Rate: Fast
Hardiness Zones: USDA 5-9; Sunset 2-11, 14-21
Light Requirement: Full sun
Core Benefits: Graceful weeping habit, attractive exfoliating bark, reliable semi-evergreen foliage, fast-growing, drought tolerant once established.
Best Uses: Shade tree, specimen tree, street tree, parks, large landscapes, lawn tree.

Q: How large does True Green Chinese Elm get?
A: It is a medium to large tree, typically reaching 40-50 feet in height and 30-40 feet in spread at maturity, with a rounded, weeping canopy.

Q: Is it truly evergreen?
A: It is semi-evergreen. 'True Green' is more reliably evergreen than other cultivars, holding its foliage through winter in milder climates (USDA zones 8-9). In colder zones, it will drop its leaves.

Q: How fast does it grow?
A: It is a fast-growing tree, providing shade earlier than many other shade trees.

Q: What is unique about its bark?
A: The bark exfoliates in beautiful, puzzle-piece-like patterns, revealing a striking mosaic of gray, green, orange, and tan, providing excellent winter interest.

Q: Is it drought tolerant?
A: Yes, once established, it is drought tolerant and adaptable to a range of well-drained soils.

Q: Is it susceptible to Dutch elm disease?
A: No, Chinese elms (Ulmus parvifolia) are highly resistant to Dutch elm disease, unlike American elms.