Why is Chinese Elm not grown here in the U.K.?

[SilkyDrawers]

I fell in love with this tree, saw it grown widely on a recent trip overseas and would love to grow one in my garden - but I can’t find it for sale anywhere, other than as a bonsai.

Wikipedia says it grows across Europe including the UK, does anyone know why it’s not sold here? As far as I know it’s nowt to do with Dutch elm disease, although I could be wrong. It’s not the dodgy Siberian one but the Chinese/Lacebark elm I’m keen on.

Does it grow huge? English elms used to grow big, far to big for an average garden here. Maybe the Chinese ones are also too big for small UK gardens.

I remember when all the big elms died in the 70's Elm trees are still susceptible to dutch elm disease AFAIK the trees still don't survive here.

Are Chinese ones resistant to the disease? if they are I'm sure people would buy them.

Having had a quick google, no I don't understand why it isn't grown here either

The Forestry Commission have a page on Dutch Elm disease and regulations, they might know? I'm sure you could email them. www.forestry.gov.uk/dutchelmdisease

The ones I saw in various Australian gardens were lovely and not enormous, which is why I thought they’d be so nice here... and it definitely seems to have resistance to Dutch elm disease: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/real-estate/the-virtues-of-the-chinese-elm/article1044665/ plus it’s so popular as a bonsai. Still can’t see why it’s not used as a garden plant .

Yes, might be worth trying the forestry commission

The Chinese elm is Ulmus parvifolia. Buy a cheap bonsai one, they can live happily outdoors in the UK and you can plant it in the ground or keep it in a pot. Let it grow and take cuttings from it. They root really easily with a bit of rooting hormone.
All imported bonsai trees have to go through special treatment or a quarantine period, to prevent them from bringing any diseases in.