| Ulmus davidiana var. japonica 'JFS-Bieberich' | |
|---|---|
| Variety | Ulmus davidiana var. japonica |
| Cultivar | 'JFS-Bieberich' = Emerald Sunshine |
| Origin | Sunshine Nursery, Oklahoma, US |
Ulmus davidianavar.japonica 'JFS-Bieberich' (sold as Emerald Sunshine) is a Japanese Elm cultivar that was raised by the Sunshine Nursery, Oklahoma, from seed collected in China by proprietor Steve Bieberich. [1] Emerald Sunshine proved only moderately successful in the US National Elm Trial, averaging a survival rate of 70% overall. [2]
Emerald Sunshine attains a height of 9 m and develops a neat vase shape, the crown < 7.5 m in width borne by a stout stem. The cultivar has thick, deep-green leaves turning dull yellow in the fall. Trees planted as part of the National Elm Trial at the Bowley Plant Science Teaching Center, U C Davis, in northern California grew comparatively slowly, increasing in height by 1 m and d.b.h. by 1.6 cm per annum. [3] The tree was summarized by Michael Dirr, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia as 'impressive' . [4]
Emerald Sunshine is resistant to Dutch elm disease and Elm Yellows (Phloem necrosis). Foliage of trees under assessment at the aforementioned National elm trial site at U C Davis suffered minimal damage caused by the elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola , [3] whilst damage caused by Japanese Beetle in trials at the University of Kentucky was found to be slight, owing to the dense pubescence on the underside of the leaves. [5] [6]
Emerald Sunshine is tolerant of high pH levels and soil compaction; it is also very resistant to desiccating winds. [1] The species does not sucker from roots. [7]
In the US, a specimen stands by the NE corner Gilkey Hall on the Oregon State University campus. [8] The cultivar is represented in Europe by five young grafted trees at the Noordplant nursery, Glimmen, The Netherlands; it is not known to have been introduced to Australasia.
Named 'JFS' for the J. Frank Schmidt nursery, Oregon, and 'Bieberich' for the proprietor of the Sunshine Nursery in Oklahoma.