Variegated Elm

Variegated Elm (Ulmus minor 'Argenteo Variegata') is a deciduous shade tree with leaves finely speckled in white, so from across a garden the whole canopy reads silver rather than green. It grows to about 10m tall and 6m wide, and it gets there faster than most feature trees. The leaves colour and drop in autumn, letting winter sun back onto the house.

Why you'll love it

• A canopy that reads silver. Fine white speckling across every leaf lifts a green garden in a way solid gold or purple foliage never quite manages.
• Fast shade. It puts on height quickly for a deciduous tree, so a 45L plant starts casting real shade within a few seasons.
• Shade in summer, sun in winter. Bare branches from late autumn mean the north side of the house warms up again when you want it to.
• Genuinely hardy. Frost hardy, wind tolerant, drought tolerant once established and content in poor soil, it is an easy tree in a difficult spot.

Where it works best

Shade tree and feature planting. At 10m by 6m it needs a real lawn or a wide bed, where the silvered canopy carries at a distance. Keep it 8m from the house and well clear of paving and drains, because elm roots run shallow and lift hard surfaces.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 8m apart along a drive. That gives each crown room to spread and closes the canopy overhead in about a decade.

Growing Variegated Elm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun holds the strongest variegation; in shade the leaves green up and the effect is lost. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is properly frost hardy. It is not a tree for the humid subtropics or tropics, where it never gets the winter chill it wants.

Soil. Almost any soil suits it, including compacted and poor ground, provided water moves through. Dig a wide hole rather than a deep one, and mulch 75mm deep, kept off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough; heavy feeding pushes soft growth that wind damages.

Pruning. Prune in late winter while it is bare and the structure is visible. Cut out any shoot that comes through solid green, since reverted growth is more vigorous and will take over the crown, and remove root suckers as they appear.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in two advanced sizes, 45L and 100L. Both arrive as established trees with a formed trunk and branching, not as whips, so you are buying several years of growing time. The 100L is heavy and needs two people to move into position.

If it arrives in winter it will be bare, which is normal and not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the range of deciduous trees for a shade position.
• See other autumn colour plants to plant alongside it.
• Read our guide to the best trees for lining driveways.
• Learn how variegated foliage works and why it reverts.

Common questions

Will the roots damage paving or pipes?

They can. Elm roots are shallow and vigorous, so keep the tree at least 5m from paths, driveways and service lines and further from a slab. This is not a tree for a narrow strip beside the house.

Does the variegation revert to plain green?

Occasionally a branch throws solid green leaves, which grow faster than the variegated ones. Cut those shoots back to their origin as soon as you notice them and the silver effect stays intact.

Does it sucker?

Yes, elms sucker freely from surface roots, particularly if the roots are cut or the tree is stressed. Mow suckers off in lawn and pull them from beds while they are soft.