Podcast Script

You can use this to follow along with the podcast, if necessary.

The Chinese Elm, or Ulmus parvifolia, can also be called the Lacebark Elm. You can get a lot from its names—it’s called the Chinese Elm because it originated in northern Asia, particularly China, Japan, Vietnam, and North Korea. It came to United States in the 19th century, and since has been used for ornamental purposes all over southern and pacific United States. It adopted its other common name, the Lacebark Elm, because of it’s signature peeling bark, which looks like lace as it comes off in thin layers.
Other than the bark, the Chinese Elm can be identified by its small leaves and red fruit and flowers. The leaves have teeth of equal size and spacing around their perimeter, and they’re rough to the touch. The flowers, which bloom in early August, are perfect—meaning they have both male and female parts. However, the tree can’t pollinate itself, and two flowers from two different trees are needed for pollination to occur. Once the flowers are ready to pollinate, they go through 5 different stages to release their pollen—and after pollination, the fruit is ripened by mid-October. The fruit looks like a small, oval-shaped pebble, and it’s actually a compressed nutlet with the seed is in its center.
One of the things that makes the Chinese elm unique to its family is that it waits until December to shed its leaves, and by then the seeds are papery and dry, perfect for the wind to carry away.
Yet another thing that makes the Elm so unique is its resilience. Because they are so seemingly unsusceptible to diseases like Dutch Elm disease, Chinese Elms have taken the place of common garden trees, such as American Elms. Because of this and their high tolerance to changes in the weather, pH levels in soil, and other environmental components, Chinese Elms are very handy for use in hard-to-grow areas, like sidewalks and parking lots. But don’t get excited and plant a lot at once—their fast growing pace and resilience has classified the Chinese Elm as invasive. A much more manageable form of the Elm is found in the art of Bonsai. Chinese Elms are great for Bonsai beginners, as they don’t need much attention or care. So pick one up today and even you can begin appreciating the beauty of the Chinese Elm.

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