Cedar Elm Tree Seedlings

Cedar elm tree for sale here means Ulmus crassifolia, a tough native elm with small, rough leaves that shrugs off heat, drought and clay. We ship bare-root seedlings in 6-12 inch, 12-18 inch, 1-2 foot and 2-3 foot sizes, in packs of 100, 500 and 1000, for shade rows, street and park plantings, windbreaks and wholesale buyers.

Cedar Elm Tree Size, Zones and Sun

Mature cedar elms reach 50 to 70 feet tall, sometimes more, with a crown 40 to 60 feet wide, and growth is moderate. Zones 6 to 9. Full sun is best. Clay, sand and loam all work, acidic or alkaline, and the tree stands up to extended flooding as long as the ground drains afterward. Once the roots are settled, drought barely slows it.

Cedar Elm Leaves and Flowers

The leaves are small, dark green and rough to the touch, and they give the crown a fine-textured look. The flowers are tiny and green, easy to miss entirely. The tree's appeal is its shape and its toughness, not a show of bloom.

Where to Plant Cedar Elm

Parks, streets, large yards, school grounds and windbreaks are the usual spots. It's a good pick for hot, dry sites and heavy clay where other shade trees struggle. Allow 20 to 30 feet between trees for a shade row. Our cedar elm shade tree guide gets into spacing and uses.

Cedar Elm for Dry Sites

Few shade trees handle heat and dry spells as well. For buyers planning around water limits, our list of drought-tolerant trees for summer yards puts cedar elm in context.

Planting Cedar Elm Seedlings Bare-root

Keep the roots damp until planting day. Dig a hole wide enough to spread them, set the seedling at the depth it grew and firm the soil. Water deeply and mulch. In weedy plantings, flag or stake the small seedlings so they don't get lost or mowed.

Buying Cedar Elm Seedlings in Bulk

At 20 feet apart a pack of 100 makes a shade row about 2,000 feet long. At closer windbreak spacing of 10 feet, the same pack covers about 1,000. The 6-12 and 12-18 inch sizes are easy to plant at scale, and the 1-2 and 2-3 foot sizes get off to a faster start.

Good to Know About Cedar Elm

Young trees need regular water through the first two summers. The drought tolerance comes later, once the roots have spread. A seedling this size also needs a clear area around it, since grass and weeds will compete for water.

Cedar Elm for Shade and Long-term Value

A cedar elm planted today turns into a large shade tree that asks little in return. It handles hard sites, doesn't need pampering and holds a broad, even crown. For people planting at scale it's a dependable choice.

Cedar Elm Seedling Sizes, Packs and Shipping

Cedar elm seedlings ship bare-root in November, in 6-12 inch, 12-18 inch, 1-2 foot and 2-3 foot sizes, in packs of 100, 500 and 1000. Volume pricing available. Browse more bare-root seedlings in our wholesale collection.