Drake Chinese Elm Tree

Ulmus parvifolia 'Drake'

$149⁹⁹

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Drake Chinese Elm Tree highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Ulmus parvifolia 'Drake'
Growing Zones

6-9
Mature Height

30 - 35 feet
Mature Spread

40 - 45 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Moisture

Moderate
Soil

Widely Adaptable
Growth Rate

Fast
Flower Color

Green
Fall Color

Evergreen In Warm Climates (Red, Yellow, Purple In Cooler Zones)
Pruning Time

Late Winter
Bloom Period

Summer

Growing Zones 6-9

Find Your Growing Zone!

In our business, there are some plants and trees you look at and just wonder why they aren't used more often. The Drake Elm Tree (Ulmus parvifolia 'Drake') is one of those trees! This is an excellent, but surprisingly underused tree!

Fast-growing, beautifully shaped, and nearly evergreen, this tree can be used in a multitude of situations. Drake Chinese Elm grows into a graceful, rounded shape with long, arching, almost weeping branches that are covered in 3-inch long shiny, dark green, leathery leaves.

In cooler climates, the leaves turn gorgeous shades of yellow, red, or purple in the fall. In the warmer growing zones, this typically deciduous tree can be evergreen! In cooler climates where the foliage drops, you will enjoy the mottled multi-colored bark for the winter. This type of Lacebark Elm exfoliates into gray, green, orange, and brown tones.

The bark is very showy, mottled in grays, greens, oranges, and browns making it very interesting in the winter. Growing 30 - 35 feet in height and 40 - 45 feet wide, maturing into a wide-spreading and gorgeous tree.

Landscape Application:

The Drake Elm growth rate is moderate, reaching its full height in just a few years. So if you need a shade tree, like yesterday, the Drake is a no-brainer choice! Plant one by your back patio, or near where you park your car to cool your world. Strategically place one on the hot sunny side of your yard to reduce cooling costs.

Drake is an ideal landscape tree for urban lots as it is unfazed by pollution. It excels as a street tree, in parking lots, and lawn tree. For a stunning statement in a big space, plant several to make a grove! If you have the room, groupings of these trees become bird-friendly sanctuaries!

Dark Green Lustrous Leathery Leaves
Can Be Evergreen In Frost-Free Growing Zones
Mottled Multi-Colored Bark
Colorful Yellow, Red & Purple Fall Color In Colder Climates
Amazing Shade Tree, Lawn Tree & Great For Urban Pollution

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Elm Trees prefer average well-drained soils with full sun access but are especially in urban environments and pollution. Elms are drought-resistant once established and do best with an application of 3-4 inches of layer of mulch around the entire root system to support their growth. Prune young trees to correct growth and remove winter dieback in the late winter or very early spring.