Japanese Zelkova

Plant Characteristics
Habit		tree
Height:	⇕	15 m"m" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15. to 35 m"m" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 35.
Lifespan:	⌛	perennial
Origin:	✈	E China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	sun
Features:	✓	deciduous
USDA Zones:		5 to 9

Scientific Names
Ulmaceae >	Zelkova >	serrata >

Read about Japanese Zelkova in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
Zelkova serrata, Makino (Z. acuminata, Planch. Z. hirta, Schneid. Z. Keaki, Mayr. Z. cuspidata, Hort. Planera acuminata, Lindl. Planera japonica, Miq. Planera Keakii, C. Koch. Ulmus Keakii, Sieb.). Fig. 4042. Tree, attaining 100 ft., with broad, round-topped head: branches slender: lvs. short-stalked, ovate to oblong-ovate, acuminate, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, sharply and coarsely serrate, with acuminate teeth, pairs of veins about 10, somewhat rough above, almost glabrous, 1 – 2 1/2 in. long on fertile branches, 2-5 on sterile branches. April, May. Japan. G.F. 6:325. Gt. 37, pp. 22, 23. S.I.F. 1:36. G.W. 16, p. 216. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

This species is cultivated widely. Crown spreads wide. Bark grey to grey-brown or pinkish-grey, scaly. Leaves have fine hairs, heavy teeth and veins underneath, turning deep yellow and a medium chocolate brown in the fall.

More information about this species can be found on the genus page.

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in almost any good soil, acid or alkaline, preferring a deep well-drained moist loam¹¹^RH. Prefers a moderately sheltered position¹¹. Relatively shade tolerant^RH. A fast growing tree^RH. Dormant plants are very cold-tolerant, but they are sometimes damaged by late spring frosts when they are young¹¹. Plants are susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease, but the beetle that is the vector of this disease rarely feeds on Zelkova so infestation is rare¹¹^RH. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus^RH.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed requires stratification and should be sown as early in the year as possible⁷⁸^RH. Germination rates are variable⁷⁸. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Pests and diseases

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Cultivars

'Goblin' - a high dwarf reaching 1 m
'Green Vase' - leaves are extremely bright green, takes the shape of a vase
'Village Green' - grows fast, with rich green leaves.

Gallery

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References

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Zelkova+serrata
Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381

External links

w:Japanese Zelkova. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
Japanese Zelkova QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)