Emerald Sunshine Chinese Elm

Emerald Sunshine Chinese Elm

15 Gallon
$229.00
Skip to product information
Emerald Sunshine Chinese Elm
1/6

Emerald Sunshine Chinese Elm

Ulmus propinqua Emerald Sunshine

Exceptional Heat & Drought Champion • Seedless & Clean Habit • Compact Shade Tree

$229.00
Container sizeSize guide

Quality Guarantee

Free Delivery Over $199

+1 650-241-8858 (SMS ok)

Local Plant Delivery

Delivered by our local network

Current Nursery Inventory

Availability reflects current sourcing

 Living Plants

Size, shape and branching naturally vary

Description

The Emerald Sunshine Chinese Elm is a breakthrough tree for hot, dry climates. It combines exceptional heat and drought tolerance with a clean, seedless habit and a more compact, semi-evergreen form. Its bright green foliage, rapid growth, and ability to thrive with minimal water make it one of the best all-around, medium-sized shade trees for challenging Bay Area landscapes.

  • Extremely heat and drought tolerant, thriving in full, reflected heat with very low water requirements once established—perfect for inland valleys and water-wise gardens.

  • Produces no seeds, eliminating the cleanup associated with many other elms and making it a cleaner choice for patios, pools, and walkways.

  • Grows with a dense, broad-vase shape but remains more compact (25-35 ft tall) than other Chinese elms, fitting better in residential-scale landscapes.

  • Retains its bright green leaves late into fall (semi-evergreen in mild winters) before dropping them with little to no fall color; leaves decompose rapidly.

  • Shares the excellent resistance to Dutch elm disease and elm leaf beetle, ensuring a healthy, pest-free tree.

Quick Facts

Processed facts

  • Mature height: 30-35 ft
  • Mature spread: 20-25 ft

Needs confirmation

  • Features:Foliage: Obovate, deeply textured leaves with serrated margins; new leaves show red edges, maturing to deep green, turning orange-red in fall.Flowers: Small, insignificant yellow-green blossoms in late summer; fruitless cultivar.Bark: Mature bark exfoliates to reveal mottled patterns of gray, brown, and green.Habit: Upright, spreading vase-shaped crown with strong branching structure
  • Growth Rate: Fast
  • Light Needs: Full sun
  • Key Advantages:Excellent heat and drought tolerance.Disease and pest resistant (including Dutch elm disease).Low water requirements once established.Adaptable to various soil conditions.Salt tolerant for coastal planting
  • Landscape Uses:Shade tree for lawns and parks.Street and urban tree planting.Drought-tolerant landscapes.Coastal and seaside gardens.Specimen tree for large spaces

Faqs

Q: What does “semi-evergreen” mean in our climate?
A: In the mild winters of Zone 9a, it may retain a significant portion of its leaves through winter, only dropping them just before new spring growth begins. In colder microclimates, it will be fully deciduous.

Q: Is it really that much more drought tolerant than other trees?
A: Yes. It was specifically bred and selected for performance in the harsh climates of the Southwestern U.S. It will survive and look good with significantly less water than most other non-native shade trees, rivaling many California natives in drought resilience.

Q: Can I use it as a street tree in a neighborhood?
A: Absolutely. Its compact size, clean habit, toughness, and non-invasive roots make it one of the best all-around choices for a residential street tree in the Bay Area. It can fit under power lines and in parkways where larger trees would not.

📍 Primary Delivery Area · San Francisco Bay Area

Local delivery across the Bay Area — and beyond.

San Francisco Bay Area is our primary local delivery market. Victory Nursery also serves additional California markets and selected extended delivery areas by arrangement.

Regular local delivery: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin, Tracy / Mountain House and surrounding service areas.

Shop now

A good garden starts with the right size

Choose your starting point.

15 Gallon

15 Gallon

One of the most common larger landscape sizes for trees and shrubs. It offers noticeable height and fullness while still being practical for many residential planting projects.

Explore 15 Gallon Plants

24" Box

24" Box

A substantial tree and shrub size with immediate visual impact. It usually requires a dolly, hand truck or similar equipment for moving, and access should be considered before delivery.

Explore 24" Box Trees

Gallon describes the container size, not a guaranteed plant height. Individual plants vary. Contact our nursery for current measurements.

Discover More from Victory Nursery

Elm
Elm Trees

Elm

Trees
Trees for shade, structure

Trees

Drought-Tolerant Garden
Drought-tolerant Bay Area garden with low-water shrubs, grasses, and flowering perennials in full sun.

Drought-Tolerant Garden

Deciduous Trees
Deciduous trees with seasonal color and canopy shade in a Bay Area garden landscape

Deciduous Trees