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' (based on vase-shaped habit)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 5-8
About This Tree
A medium to large deciduous tree with a distinctive vase-shaped habit and a rounded, spreading crown. It features upward-reaching branches that create a cathedral-like canopy. It is known for its graceful form and rapid growth when young.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, 2-5 inches long, ovate-oblong with sharply serrated margins. Dark green in summer, turning shades of yellow, orange, and reddish-brown in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and gray when young (as seen in image), becoming exfoliating and mottled with age to reveal orange-brown inner bark patches.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Japan, Korea, and Eastern China; widely adapted to North American urban environments
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; inconspicuous flowers in April; seeds ripen late summer; late fall color; dormant in winter
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred; moderate water needs; well-drained soil; once established, it has high drought tolerance.
Mature Size
50-80 feet tall with a spread of 40-60 feet; moderate to fast growth rate; can live 60-150 years.
Special Characteristics
Resistant to Dutch Elm Disease; highly tolerant of urban pollution, wind, and heat; provides excellent fall color and ornamental bark.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting sites and cover for songbirds; seeds (small drupes) provide food for birds and small mammals; larval host for some moth species.