Zelkova serrata: Country Or Region Of Origin
China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Taiwan
Plant Profile: Zelkova serrata
Taxonomy: Zelkova serrataNames
Japanese Zelkova
Phonetic Spelling:ZEL-kov-uh sair-AY-tuh
Genus:Zelkova
Species:serrata
Family:Ulmaceae
This tree serves as an excellent shade provider, showcasing vibrant autumn colors and requiring minimal cleanup during the fall. It thrives in various conditions, including heat, drought, wind, and urban environments. Renowned for its elegant form, tidy leaves, appealing bark, and resilience against Dutch elm disease, Zelkova has increasingly been recommended as an alternative to the American elm (Ulmus americana) due to its disease resistance.
Quick Identification
Zelkova serrata Feature Summary
Tags
#deciduous
#fall color
#shade tree
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#shade tolerant
#street tree
#playground
#cpp
#children's garden
#fantz
#urban conditions tolerant
Similar Plants
Zelkova serrata is often confused with:
Zelkova serrata Feature Summary
Attributes
China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Taiwan
Dutch Elm, Bacterial Canker
Perennial
Woody
Shade
Fruit
Fruit is small, ovoid to renivoid, bearing two small beaks; in fall.
Drupe
Green
Brown/Copper
Summer
1-3 inches
Flowers
Not ornamentally
Green
Insignificant
Spring
Leaves
Leaves are simple, alternate, oblong-elliptic, acuminate, weakly oblique, rotund to weakly cordate, large crenately, acute teeth, lateral veins parallel, each ending in a tooth.
Deciduous
Green
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
Oblong
Serrate
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Bark
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Deciduous
Multi-stemmed
Dense
Vase
Slow
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
more than 60 feet
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Stem
Brown/Copper
Landscape
Children's Garden
Shade Garden
Shade Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Recreational Play Area
Lawn
Zelkova serrata Image Gallery
Zelkova serrata Attributes
Zelkova serrata: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Dutch Elm, Bacterial Canker
Zelkova serrata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Zelkova serrata: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Zelkova serrata: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Zelkova serrata Fruit
Zelkova serrata: Fruit Description
Fruit is small, ovoid to renivoid, bearing two small beaks; in fall.
Zelkova serrata: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Zelkova serrata: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Zelkova serrata: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Zelkova serrata: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Zelkova serrata Flowers
Zelkova serrata: Flower Description
Not ornamentally
Zelkova serrata: Flower Color
Green
Zelkova serrata: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Zelkova serrata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Zelkova serrata Leaves
Zelkova serrata: Leaf Description
Leaves are simple, alternate, oblong-elliptic, acuminate, weakly oblique, rotund to weakly cordate, large crenately, acute teeth, lateral veins parallel, each ending in a tooth.
Zelkova serrata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Zelkova serrata: Leaf Color
Green
Zelkova serrata: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Zelkova serrata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Zelkova serrata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Zelkova serrata: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Zelkova serrata: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Zelkova serrata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Zelkova serrata: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Zelkova serrata: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Zelkova serrata: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Zelkova serrata Bark
Zelkova serrata: Bark Description
Bark is smooth, grayish-white.
Zelkova serrata: Bark Color
Light Gray
White
Zelkova serrata: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Zelkova serrata Whole Plant Traits
Zelkova serrata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Zelkova serrata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Zelkova serrata: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Zelkova serrata: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Zelkova serrata: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Zelkova serrata: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Zelkova serrata Cultural Conditions
Zelkova serrata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Zelkova serrata: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Zelkova serrata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Zelkova serrata: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Zelkova serrata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Zelkova serrata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Zelkova serrata Stem
Zelkova serrata: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Zelkova serrata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Zelkova serrata Landscape
Zelkova serrata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Zelkova serrata: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Zelkova serrata: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
