Murrays Form Chinese Elm

Murrays Form Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia 'Murrays Form') is the tree to plant when you need height and have almost no width to give. It reaches about 8m tall and only 3.5m across, growing quickly into a narrow upright column of fine foliage. Planted 3m apart it makes a tall screen faster than almost anything this slim.

Why you'll love it

• Height without the spread. Roughly 8m by 3.5m, so it screens an upstairs window from a side boundary strip that would not fit an ordinary shade tree.
• Fast to do its job. Quick growth means a usable screen in a few seasons rather than a long wait.
• Semi evergreen in warm gardens. In subtropical and warm temperate districts it keeps much of its canopy through winter, so the screen does not disappear in July.
• Hard to upset. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, wind tolerant, heat tolerant and content in poor soil, a rare combination in a fast growing tree.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 3m apart in a single row along a boundary. The canopies knit into a continuous tall screen while each tree keeps its upright shape and stays clear of the fence.

Driveways and avenues. A matched row at 3m to 4m centres gives a formal avenue with easy vehicle clearance underneath.

Windbreaks and shade. A staggered double row at 3m filters wind across an exposed block rather than blocking it. A single tree also throws dappled shade over a courtyard.

Growing Murrays Form Chinese Elm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest column, though it accepts part shade. It performs in subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is frost hardy, so cold inland and southern sites are fine. Expect fuller winter foliage the warmer your climate.

Soil. Undemanding, and it handles compacted or poor ground better than most trees. Give it drainage, dig a wide hole and work compost through the backfill. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then only in long dry spells, with a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring. The root system is vigorous, so allow 4m to 5m of clearance from pipes, tanks, paving and slabs.

Pruning. Little is required. Prune in late winter to remove crossing branches and lift the lower canopy for clearance. It takes shaping well, so an annual trim can keep it narrower still.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in 400mm pots, then 30L, 45L, 100L and advanced 300L. The 400mm and 30L trees are the value choice for a long boundary and catch up quickly. From 45L upward you buy a tree with real height on day one, and the 300L gives an established screen with no waiting.

Trees are packed to travel upright, and some leaf loss in transit is normal. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Plants are delivered Australia wide with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect strong growth from the first full spring, and every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Tall and narrow screening plants
• The best fast growing screening trees
• Screening plants 4m to 8m
• Driveway trees for an avenue

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Three metres apart in a single row. That lets each tree keep its narrow form while the canopies still meet, and leaves room to mow between the trunks and the fence.

Does it lose its leaves in winter?

It depends on your climate. In subtropical and warm temperate gardens it holds most of its foliage. In cool temperate and Mediterranean districts it drops leaves in late autumn and refoliates in early spring.

Are the roots a problem near pipes?

They can be. Keep the tree at least 4m to 5m from sewer lines, water tanks, driveways and house slabs, and it is a straightforward tree to live with.