WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Ulmus parvifolia, WUCOLS IV

How often to water Chinese evergreen elm in California

In July in the Central Valley, established Chinese evergreen elm in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 47 gallons a week. Chinese evergreen elm, Ulmus parvifolia, is a fast-growing shade tree with small, glossy leaves on drooping branches. Its bark flakes into mottled patches of gray, brown and orange. It is often called evergreen, though it drops its leaves where winters are cold. It adapts to most soils and resists Dutch elm disease.

TreeRated for 6 of 6 zones

How often to water Chinese evergreen elm, month by month

Your city
Canopy width
10 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for Chinese evergreen elm and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure canopy width

A tree with its canopy width marked across the widest branches and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the branches, from the tips of the outer leaves on one side to the tips on the other. A tape works, or pace it out.

Water the whole circle under the branches, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that circle.

A wider canopy means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While the tree is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Dry soil 6 inches down at the canopy edge tells you a young Chinese evergreen elm needs a deep soak
  • Heavy leaf drop in summer heat can point to a dry root zone
  • Broken branches after wind reflect the tree's low wind resistance, not a watering problem
  • Seedlings sprouting in nearby beds show its self-seeding habit
  • Yellowing leaves in soil that stays soggy suggest poor drainage

How to water it

  • Water Chinese evergreen elm across the root zone under the canopy with a soaker or drip ring
  • Soak 18 inches deep, then let the top several inches dry before the next watering
  • Plant in full sun or part shade in well-drained soil, out of the strongest wind
  • Mulch the root zone and keep string trimmers away from the flaking bark
  • Move irrigation outward as the canopy widens toward 40 to 50 feet

Through the seasons

Water a new Chinese evergreen elm deeply through its first summers while roots spread. Established trees tolerate occasional dry spells and urban conditions. In mild winters the tree may keep much of its foliage, while colder spots see it drop leaves. Small reddish flowers in late summer lead to papery winged seeds. WUCOLS rates Chinese evergreen elm low water on the north-central coast and in South Inland. It rates moderate water in the Central Valley, on the south coast, in the high desert and in the low desert.

In pots

A young Chinese evergreen elm can grow in a large container for a few years before planting out. Use a deep pot with drainage holes and a well-drained mix. In summer heat, check 2 inches down every few days and water when dry. Let the excess drain and empty the saucer. Keep the pot out of strong wind, since the branches break easily. In winter, water lightly, especially if the tree drops its leaves.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.761.52.33.00.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.761.52.33.00.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Chinese Evergreen Elm: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.150.40.780.310.740.78
Feb0.210.650.810.350.930.93
Mar0.351.091.150.521.461.52
Apr0.471.521.40.641.891.95
May0.582.081.610.782.392.45
Jun0.642.481.740.922.852.79
Jul0.642.671.9813.042.85
Aug0.62.391.860.932.792.6
Sep0.51.81.490.742.142.08
Oct0.351.181.150.531.461.49
Nov0.190.560.840.360.930.96
Dec0.120.340.650.270.650.68
Year4.817.1115.57.3721.2721.08

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like Chinese evergreen elm. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Citrus TreesCitrus spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyJapanese MapleAcer palmatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAvocado TreesPersea americanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMagnolia TreesMagnolia grandiflora ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPalm TreesSyagrus romanzoffiana (Arecastrum romanzoffianum)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyApple TreesMalus spp. (edible) e.g, 'Anna' (low chill variety for low desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPeach TreesPrunus spp. ediblemoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPersimmon TreesDiospyros kakimoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAmur MapleAcer ginnalamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyFernleaf MapleAcer japonicummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBox ElderAcer negundomoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyNorway MapleAcer platanoidesmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed MapleAcer rubrummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyChinese MapleAcer truncatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed BuckeyeAesculus paviamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed HorsechestnutAesculus x carneamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than Chinese evergreen elm in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

Olive TreesOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFig TreesFicus carica ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCrape MyrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyAloeAloe spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPomegranate TreesPunica granatumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyEucalyptusEucalyptus polyanthemoslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPine TreesPinus canariensislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyJunipersJuniperus spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyTexas Red OakQuercus buckleyilow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPortuguese OakQuercus faginealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySoapbark TreeQuillaja saponarialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyNecklace TreeSophora affinislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBailey AcaciaAcacia baileyanalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilver WattleAcacia dealbatalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyGreen WattleAcacia decurrenslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySydney Golden WattleAcacia longifolialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes Chinese evergreen elm, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water Chinese evergreen elm in summer?

In July, established Chinese evergreen elm in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days in the Central Valley, about every 11 days on the south coast and about every 22 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does Chinese evergreen elm need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established Chinese evergreen elm needs about 6.8 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 27 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for Chinese evergreen elm change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Chinese evergreen elm separately for each of the six California climate zones: low water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, low water in the South Inland zone, moderate water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, moderate water in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Is Chinese elm the same as Siberian elm?

No. Chinese evergreen elm is Ulmus parvifolia, with mottled, flaking bark, while Siberian elm is Ulmus pumila. Read the botanical name on the tag before you buy.

Why are branches breaking on my Chinese elm?

It has low wind resistance, so branches can break in storms. Prune for a strong structure while the tree is young, and site it out of the strongest wind.

Is Chinese evergreen elm messy?

Its winged seeds can sprout in nearby beds, and it can become weedy. Pull seedlings while they are small.

Can Chinese evergreen elm grow near the coast?

Yes. Its moderate salt tolerance makes it a good choice for coastal gardens. WUCOLS rates it low water on the north-central coast.

Can you overwater Chinese evergreen elm?

Yes. It accepts moist or occasionally dry soil but needs good drainage. Water deeply and let the upper soil dry between soakings.

More plant watering guides

Yaupon HollyRed Hot PokerSunshine Chinese PrivetMugo PineCamphor TreeCreeping FigWhite ForsythiaPaperbark Maple

Sources