Everclear® Lacebark Elm

The Everclear® Lacebark Elm is a tree that proves good things can come in narrow packages. If you've been searching for an elm that actually respects property lines and doesn't try to hug your house, this is your tree. With a slender vase-shaped form growing to 40 feet tall but only 15 feet wide, Everclear® brings all the ornamental beauty of Chinese elm to tight urban spaces where most shade trees fear to tread. The tree's architectural merit lies not just in its mannerly proportions, but in its stunning mottled bark that exfoliates to reveal a kaleidoscope of brown, tan, olive, cinnamon, gray, green, and orange – a living work of abstract art that provides year-round visual interest even in the dead of winter. Small, glossy dark green leaves clothe the branches through summer before transitioning to clear yellow in fall, a color performance that inspired the cultivar's name.

This is an exceptionally tough urban warrior. Everclear® tolerates heat, drought, clay soils, wet soils, compacted urban soils, salt, and air pollution with the stoicism of a tree that has places to be and isn't about to let a little adversity stop it. The branch angles naturally position themselves to avoid traffic and buildings, making this an intelligent choice for street plantings, parking lots, and anywhere you need a tree that won't require constant pruning to keep it from interfering with infrastructure. It's also highly resistant to Dutch elm disease and Japanese beetles, two scourges that decimated American elms and continue to plague susceptible species. Fast-growing on well-drained soil, Everclear® will quickly establish itself as a distinctive specimen tree or create dramatic avenues when planted in rows.

Songbirds are attracted to lacebark elms, using the trees for nesting sites and feeding on the papery-winged samaras that mature in late summer through early fall. These seeds provide an important food source for resident and migratory birds during the critical fall migration period. The tree's branching structure offers secure nesting locations, while its resistance to major pests means fewer pesticide applications that might harm wildlife.

Everclear® (PP17,665) originated as a chance seedling discovered at Bold Spring Nursery in Bold Spring, Georgia, and was raised by John Barbour of Athena Trees in Monroe, Georgia. The cultivar received its plant patent in 2007 and has since been selected for inclusion in the prestigious National Elm Trial coordinated by Colorado State University – a rigorous evaluation program testing promising elm cultivars across diverse climates and conditions. The cultivar has proven its merit in institutional plantings, including an avenue of twenty Everclear® elms lining North University Street before Matthews Hall at Purdue University.

General care for any tree or shrub is easy, but like any living thing will require your attention. Please educate yourself and follow these simple rules.