Japanese Zelkova
Zelkova serrata · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Ulmaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Ornamental, Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Green Vase' or 'Village Green'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8
About This Tree
A medium to large deciduous tree with a distinctive vase-shaped habit. It features a short main trunk that divides into numerous upright-branching stems forming a dense, rounded, spreading crown with a clean, graceful appearance.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, ovate to oblong-ovate, 1.5 to 4 inches long. The margins are sharply serrated (toothed) and the base is often slightly asymmetrical. Color is dark green in summer, turning shades of yellow, orange, and deep reddish-purple in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and grayish-brown when young; as it matures, it develops small, thin flakes that peel back to reveal a beautiful cinnamon to burnt-orange inner bark, creating a mottled or 'exfoliating' look transitions.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Eastern China
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; flowers in spring during leaf emergence; fruits ripen in autumn; enters dormancy in late autumn after leaf drop.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred; moderate watering needs. It exhibits good drought tolerance once established and prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils.
Mature Size
Height: 50-80 feet; Spread: 40-60 feet. Growth rate is moderate; lifespan can reach over 150 years in ideal conditions.
Special Characteristics
Significant resistance to Dutch Elm Disease (making it a popular elm substitute), high tolerance to urban pollution and wind, and striking fall color variation.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting sites and cover for songbirds; seeds are consumed by small mammals and birds. It serves as a larval host for some species of moths and provides pollen for generalist pollinators in early spring.