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Hardy rubber-tree

Eucommia ulmoides

Common names:
hardy rubber-tree, hardy rubber tree

Content Detail

Hardy rubber-tree, a native of China, can be used in the landscape as a shade tree. It has an attractive round to broadly spreading form and during summer, the thick leaves are a very glossy green.

  • Family (English) Hardy Rubber Tree
  • Family (botanic) Eucommiaceae
  • Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, Restricted sites, Wide median
  • Tree or plant type Tree
  • Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
  • Native locale Non-native
  • Size range Large tree (more than 40 feet)
  • Mature height 40-60 feet
  • Mature width 30-50 feet
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
  • Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
  • Tolerances Alkaline soil, clay soil, Dry sites, Occasional drought, Road salt, Wet sites
  • Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
  • Shape or form Broad, Round
  • Growth rate Moderate
  • Transplants well No
  • Has cultivars Yes

Size:

Hardy rubber-tree can grow 40 to 60 feet tall and 30 to 50 feet wide.

Native geographic location and habitat:

It is native to China.

Bark color and texture:

The bark is gray brown, ridged, and furrowed.

Leaf description:

It has an alternate, simple leaves that resemble elm leaves, but are dark green and glossy. When torn the leaf exudes an elastic, rubber substance used to make rubber. There is little color change in the fall.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size description:

The male and female inconspicuous flowers are dioecious, meaning they are on separate plants.

Fruit description:

The fruit is a seed enclosed in a waxy winged capsule.

Tree care:

This tree grows best in full sun. It is tolerant of various pH and drought. This is a very low maintenance tree, although branches can be prone to storm damage.

List of pests and diseases:

There aren’t any serious problems.

Emerald Point™ hardy rubber tree (Eucommia ulmoides ‘Empozam’):

This columnar, upright cultivar is a narrow, oval tree reaching 30 to 40 feet high and 15 feet wide. It is seedless.

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