Zelkova serrata

• BOTANICAL NAME: Zelkova serrata
• PRONUNCIATION: zel-KO-va ser-RA-ta
• COMMON NAME: Japanese Zelkova
• FAMILY: Ulmaceae
• NATIVITY: Japan, Korea
• GROWTH HABIT: Vase-shaped, with broad, rounded crown and ascending branches; 50'-80' tall. Fast growth rate.
• HARDINESS: Zone 5-8
• CULTURE: Moist, well-drained soils in full sun.
• LANDSCAPE USE: Good for landscape and street tree use, tolerant of wind, drought; resistant to most elm pests including Dutch elm disease.
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, simple, 1 ¼" - 5" long, ovate to oblong-ovate, acuminate, margins sharply serrate, 8-14 parallel veins. Top of leaf rough and dark-green, fall color brown or red to purple.
• BUDS: Small elmlike, divergent from the stem.
• BARK: Gray, smooth, with many lenticels evident on branches; can be scaly looking.
• FRUIT: Small drupe.
• PROPAGATION: Seed, cuttings.
• PESTS: Elm leaf beetle, Japanese beetle.
• CULTIVARS:
  • 'Green Vase' - Vase-shaped, upward arching branches. Vigorous.
  • +'Village Green' - Rapid growth, good habit, red fall color. Hardy. Highly resistant to Dutch elm disease and to beetles.
• RELATED SPECIES:
  • Z. sinica - Similar to Z. serrata but with plately exfoliating golden bark at maturity.