Chinese Elm Fall Colors Share

[River Trees]

Hi Everyone!

I'm mainly a lurker here, but wanted to share a photo of the fall colors on my Chinese Elm this year. I got this tree in July '24 and it didn't have much color last fall. However, it had a lot of colors this fall. I loved the transition from dark red to orange.

Has anyone else had some great coloring this year on their Chinese Elms?

 

[Kmecca]

Beautiful! I too am a lurker and have learned so much.

I'm in Upstate NY, zone 5b.

I have 2 CE. Don't know the cultivators. Tree #1 I've had for 4 years. Tree #2 for 2 years. For the first time, I'm leaving them outside, on the deck, to go into dormancy as they appeared to be weakening and didn't bounce back until July-ish. They still have green leaves as of Nov 25th. All native trees are bare. Nights are in the high 20s, days from 38 - 59.

First picture is Tree #2, late fall 2023.
2nd - 3rd pic Tree # 2, 11/20/2025
4th Tree #1, 11/20/2025

Thoughts on dormancy progress for these? Tree #2 has very tiny leaves and seems to grow in a "weeping" fashion.

 

[MalsRFun in TN]

I have 2 CE. Don't know the cultivators. Tree #1 I've had for 4 years. Tree #2 for 2 years. For the first time, I'm leaving them outside, on the deck, to go into dormancy as they appeared to be weakening and didn't bounce back until July-ish. They still have green leaves as of Nov 25th. All native trees are bare. Nights are in the high 20s, days from 38 - 59.

I'm also new this year to Chinese elms and wondering what to do as a longer cold snap approaches. I'm in zone 7 where we've had a couple of really cold nights but mostly abnormal highs in the 60s and 70s. The two small ones I got from Brussels last fall then over wintered in my unheated garage didn't bounce back until July like yours, even outside in hot weather. They still have green leaves right now.

 

[Gabler]

I'm also new this year to Chinese elms and wondering what to do as a longer cold snap approaches. I'm in zone 7 where we've had a couple of really cold nights but mostly abnormal highs in the 60s and 70s. The two small ones I got from Brussels last fall then over wintered in my unheated garage didn't bounce back until July like yours, even outside in hot weather. They still have green leaves right now.

Weird. Maybe the cold didn't come gradually enough?

 

[rockm]

I’ve found that The Catlin cultivar tends to keep green leaves well into winter outdoors. I had one that kept them u til the first deep freeze burned them off. The tree pushed new ones in the spring. Did that for years.

And FWIW getting red fall color in Chinese elm is not really common. Deep rich yellows are. Most elms tend to be yellow in fall. My cedar elm has been yellow most of the time but when an early hard frost/shallow freeze hits it it can burnish to a lighter shade of orange. Hasn’t happened often though

 

[darzuo]

My chinese elms are still green with some bronze tips despite my zelkovas and siberian elm having dropped all of their foliage weeks ago. I've heard it's common as rockm said for chinese elms to hold onto their leaves into winter.

 

[Wulfskaar]

My Chinese Elm is just starting to turn. It's an outside tree. It appears that it's got a little more red than usual this year, although it's definitely got some yellow coming in. It's always been yellow in the past.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Weird. Maybe the cold didn't come gradually enough?

That's what happens to mine. Turns a bit yellow then brown and drop. I've never seen color on my CE except yellow. No Chance this season, just green to white. CE in white pot, BC in gray.

b

 

[leatherback]

Did you see: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/fall-color-2025.70209/

On of my elms:

 

[River Trees]

I’ve found that The Catlin cultivar tends to keep green leaves well into winter outdoors. I had one that kept them u til the first deep freeze burned them off. The tree pushed new ones in the spring. Did that for years.
And FWIW getting red fall color in Chinese elm is not really common. Deep rich yellows are. Most elms tend to be yellow in fall. My cedar elm has been yellow most of the time but when an early hard frost/shallow freeze hits it it can burnish to a lighter shade of orange. Hasn’t happened often though

Last winter was my first with the tree, it had some yellow leaves, but for the most part stayed green then dropped most. It wintered on my unheated bilco basement steps. Spring, summer, and fall it stays on the bench in a south facing corner of my back patio. I plan on over wintering it the same way this year. I posted because I showed this photo to the owner of a local bonsai nursery and he was surprised by the red coloring as well. I'm hoping my wintering strategy is OK.

Did you see: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/fall-color-2025.70209/

On of my elms:

Thanks! I did see this. As I mentioned above I wanted to post due to the reaction someone gave to the color. I also was hoping to specifically discuss the CE fall colors.