Ulmus parvifolia
Chinese elm, lacebark elm, Lacebark Elm
(c) Reid Hardin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Reid Hardin · licence
Family: Ulmaceae · Type: Tree · Not Native
Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese elm) is a non-native California tree in the Ulmaceae family, recognized by distinctive peeling bark, autumn flowering, and simple leaf serrations.
Chinese elm is a naturalized tree found in central coastal California, southwestern California, the Mojave Desert, and western desert regions along streams, springs, wetlands, roadsides, and disturbed areas at elevations of 10 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from August to October, this tree produces small flowers with subtle coloration in autumn. Growing up to 25 meters tall with distinctive bark that peels in irregular woody scales 2 to 8 centimeters wide, revealing orange-brown surfaces that weather to ash-gray. Its lance-ovate to narrowly elliptic leaves are 2.5 to 5 centimeters long with obtusely and irregularly serrated margins, glossy green with subtle pubescence along major veins. The fruit is an elliptical to ovate-elliptical samara 1 to 1.3 centimeters long, ranging in color from tan to dark red-brown.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by distinctive peeling bark, autumn flowering, and simple leaf serrations
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streams, springs, wetlands, roadsides, disturbed areas
Elevation: 10-1200 m
California counties: Butte, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Orange, El Dorado, Kern, Stanislaus, Santa Barbara, San Mateo, Marin, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Inyo, Lassen, San Luis Obispo
Outside California: to eastern United States, native to eastern Asia
Bloom period
Ulmus parvifolia blooms Aug-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Ulmus has flat papery-winged fruits; oaks produce acorns in cups.; vs Alnus: Ulmus has round papery-winged fruits; alder has woody cone-like fruits.; vs Populus: Ulmus fruits are round papery wafers; Populus has cottony seeds on wind.; vs Platanus: Ulmus has individual papery-winged fruits; Platanus has spiky balls hanging on strings.; vs Fraxinus: Ulmus fruits are round papery wafers; ash fruits are single-winged paddles.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ulmus parvifolia native to California?
No. Ulmus parvifolia is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ulmus parvifolia bloom?
Ulmus parvifolia blooms Aug-Oct.
Where in California does Ulmus parvifolia grow?
Ulmus parvifolia occurs in Butte, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Orange, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 10-1200 m.
What plant family does Ulmus parvifolia belong to?
Ulmus parvifolia is in the Ulmaceae family, genus Ulmus.
What habitat does Ulmus parvifolia grow in?
Ulmus parvifolia grows in Streams, springs, wetlands, roadsides, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.