Burnley Select Chinese Elm

Burnley Select Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia 'Burnley Select') is an Australian selection chosen for a straight central leader and an even, upright crown. It grows to about 10m tall and 7m wide, which is street tree scale without the bulk of a full sized shade tree. The mottled bark flakes to reveal patches of cream, grey and orange, giving it interest in every season.

Why you'll love it

• A predictable, upright shape. This is a selected clone rather than a seedling, so trees match each other along an avenue.
• Bark that improves with age. The flaking trunk pattern gets better every year, which is unusual in a tree that establishes this quickly.
• Genuinely hard to kill. Frost hardy, wind tolerant, drought tolerant once established and content in poor compacted soil.
• Autumn colour, then a quick return. Foliage turns yellow and gold before dropping in cold districts, while in warm ones the tree holds most of its leaves through winter.

Where it works best

Shade trees. Allow the full 7m of canopy width plus room for roots, so a lawn, a wide verge or a rear yard corner rather than a small courtyard.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees 7m to 8m apart. At that distance the crowns meet overhead within a few seasons and the matched form of the selection really shows.

Feature planting in tough sites. Its tolerance of compacted soil, wind and dry spells suits car parks, exposed corners and nature strips.

Growing Chinese Elm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open space. It performs across subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, a wider range than most street trees manage. Frost is no concern once established.

Soil. Adaptable to sand, loam and clay, and untroubled by poor ground. It still prefers water to drain away, so break up the sides of the planting hole rather than leaving a smooth pit in clay.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers to draw the roots down, then only in prolonged dry weather. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Pruning. Formative pruning in the first three winters is the important work: keep one leader and lift the lower branches gradually to the clearance you want. Mature trees need little beyond removing dead or crossing wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow this elm in 400mm pots and 30L, 45L and advanced 100L sizes. The 400mm and 30L trees are young whips with a defined leader, the practical option when planting several at once. The 45L and 100L sizes arrive with a formed trunk and branching head, so an avenue reads as intentional in its first year.

In cold districts a tree despatched in winter may arrive bare or nearly bare of leaves, which is normal for a semi evergreen. Stake for the first two years on a windy site. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Best trees for lining a driveway
• Browse trees suited to driveways and avenues
• Shop advanced trees for immediate impact
• Evergreen or deciduous: which suits your garden

Common questions

Is it evergreen or deciduous?

It depends where you are. In subtropical and warm temperate gardens it behaves as a semi evergreen and holds most of its leaves, while in cool temperate districts it drops them briefly in late winter and refoliates quickly.

How far from a house or paving should I plant it?

Allow at least 5m from buildings, slabs and service lines. The canopy alone reaches 7m across, and while the roots are better behaved than many shade trees, they still want room.

How far apart for an avenue?

7m to 8m apart. Any closer and the crowns compete, which pushes the trees upward and thins the lower canopy where you want shade.