Ulmus parvifolia ‘Reshafim’

Ulmus parvifolia ‘Reshafim’, also known as Chinese elm, belongs to the Ulmaceae family. The tree is deciduous and medium in size. Its branches are long, and over the years they harden downwards and create a spreading-weeping aspect. It is suitable for all types of soil in Israel, but it grows less well in saline soils. Its leaves are dark green, and when they change color, the ‘Reshafim’ cultivar’s leaves boast beautiful shades of purple to burgundy. Even after the leaves fall, it is handsome and sculptural, with its peeling tree bark resembling a mosaic.

At the nursery, we propagate the ‘Reshafim’ cultivar vegetatively (from cuttings), and thus we preserve its positive features, primarily its high resistance to weather hazards, diseases, insects and air pollution. Thus, for instance, U. parvifolia ‘Reshafim’ is not vulnerable to the degenerative disease that affected the other previous Ulmus species seen in Israel. According to the professional literature, the Ulmaceae family is resistant to low temperatures and frost, and usually to heat as well, but not to heavy heatwaves and extreme high temperatures. U. parvifolia ‘Reshafim,’ which is an outstanding cultivar created and cultivated in the Reshafim Kibbutz near Beit She’an, has outstanding properties in comparison with other members of its family, such as resistance to diseases and pests, and impressive and unique red fall display, and apparently, based on professional experience in recent years, increases resistance to high temperatures. Nevertheless, we recommend that a young tree needs regular watering (not much) and in dry years, auxiliary watering will contribute to a fresher appearance for an adult tree, too. As the years pass, the ‘Reshafim’ cultivar is proving to be a winning tree, and its use is only growing, and it is evident that this is with good reason.

Others in the same family: Ulmus parvifolia ‘Reshafim’ | Ulmus glabra ‘Pendula’