Frontier Elm

Height: 25–40 ft

Spread: 20–30 ft

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5–9

Fall Color: Brilliant burgundy, purple‑red, or wine‑red — one of the best fall displays among elms.

Soil Type: Adaptable to clay, loam, or sandy soils. Tolerates alkaline soils well. Prefers moist, well‑drained soils but handles drought once established. Avoids prolonged saturation.

Exposure Type: Full sun. Tolerates partial sun but best color and form in full light.

Category:

Description

Ulmus ‘Frontier’ / Frontier Elm

Planting Points: Known for exceptional fall color, rare among elms, inherited from Chinese elm parentage. Excellent Dutch Elm Disease (DED) resistance and good resistance to elm leaf beetle. Strong tolerance to pollution, urban heat, salt, and compacted soils. Compact, rounded to vase‑shaped canopy provides moderate shade. Moderate growth rate. Bark becomes attractive, mottled, and exfoliating with age. Requires minimal pruning—maintains a balanced structure naturally. Prune during late fall or winter to reduce disease risk, as with all elms.

Siting This Tree: Outstanding small to medium street tree for urban landscapes. Ideal for residential yards, especially where a smaller elm with good fall color is desired. Great for boulevards, parks, campuses, and commercial landscapes. Not suitable for areas with long winter extremes below Zone 5. Avoid sites with continuously wet soil, although periodic moisture is tolerated.