Ulmus parvifolia 'Emer II or Emerald Vase (selling name ) is a Chinese elm cultivar selected by Dr. Michael A. Dirr and cloned in the late 1980s from a tree planted circa 1910 on the University of Georgia campus at Athens, that had survived ice-storms undamaged.U. parvifolia ALLÉE®, Oregon State University Landscape Plants, landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu It was patented in 1991.
Description can reach a height of about 15 m, with a more upright crown shape than its stablemate , its spread approximately 13 m, with arching branches bearing medium green, glossy leaves turning orange to rust red in autumn. The exfoliating, mottled bark has a puzzle-like pattern, and is considered attractive.
Pests and diseases The species and its cultivars are highly resistant, but not immune, to Dutch elm disease, and unaffected by the elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola. As with the species overall, damage caused by Japanese beetle is relatively slight (< 8% defoliation).Brady, C., Condra, J., & Potter, D. (2008) Resistance of Landscape-suitable Elm (Ulmus spp.) Cultivars to Japanese Beetle, Leaf Miners, and Gall Makers. 2008 Research Report, Nursery & Landscape Program, pp 15, 16. University of Kentucky.
Cultivation is reputedly drought tolerant, but in the elm trials conducted by Northern Arizona University at Holbrook, Arizona, it proved unsuited to the hot, arid climate and sustained over 50% mortality in its first year, as did its sibling .Northern Arizona University School of Forestry The tree is being evaluated in the National Elm Trial coordinated by Colorado State University.National Elm Trial, Colorado State University; treehealth.agsci.colostate.edu With its more upright form, has been described as a better street tree than the commonly planted lacebark elm 'Drake'. It has been planted by the north front of Austin Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.U. parvifolia 'Emer II', Austin Hall, Oregon State University - Google Maps, May 2024, access date: 20 January 2025 Lines of and in North Robinson Avenue and North Harvey Avenue, Oklahoma City, flank the Oklahoma City National Memorial.James Burnett, Oklahoma City Streetscape, 2009, pp.117 & 121 The tree has been introduced to Australia and Europe, and was marketed briefly in England by the Thornhayes Nursery, Devon.
Accessions North America Bartlett Tree Experts, North Carolina, US. Acc. no. 2001-166 Boone County Arboretum, Union, Kentucky, US. Accession number BT001113, planted 2009. U. parvifolia , Individual plant records, Boone County Arboretum Brenton Arboretum, Dallas Center, Iowa, US. One tree, acquired 2009. Acc. no. not known. Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida.Photographs of U. parvifolia 'Emer II' in Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida; Handbuch der Ulmengewächse (Handbook of the Elm Family); ulmen-handbuch.de No accession details available. Holden Arboretum, US. Acc. no. 98-26 Scott Arboretum, US. Acc. no. 2000-006 Smith College, US. Acc. nos 302, 33603 U S National Arboretum , Washington, D.C., US. Acc. no. 64442 University of Idaho arboretum, US. One tree. Acc. no. 1998010
Nurseries North America (Widely available) Australasia Fleming's Nursery , Monbulk, Victoria, Australia.
References
External links http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/cultivars/ulmus_parvifolia.htm Ulmus parvifolia cultivar list. https://web.archive.org/web/20030413074605/http://fletcher.ces.state.nc.us/programs/nursery/metria/metria11/warren/elm.htm Return of the Elm - the status of elms in the nursery industry in 2000. Warren, K., J. Frank Schmidt and Co.