Japanese Tree Zelkova
Tree planting continues at my bedford new york farm with a group of beautiful japanese zelkova trees.
Japanese tree zelkova. It s noted for its stunning autumn foliage where green leaves turn yellow copper orange or deep red to purplish red in the fall creating a showy display that you. Japanese zelkova is a tough urban tree for residential shade and street plantings. Zelkova serrata is a medium sized. This native of japan taiwan and east china is a member of the elm family and because of its high resistance to dutch elm disease it is often promoted as a substitute.
The most recent project a row of zelkovas along one section of my lower hayfield. The mature height of a zelkova tree is 60 to 80 feet tall. My gardeners and outdoor grounds crew are working very hard to plant as many saplings as possible before the ground freezes. Japanese zelkova is closely related to elms but is resistant to dutch elm disease ded.
The crown is shorter and more rounded than the american elm. This tree has interesting bark clean serrated foliage and good fall color. The bark is a smooth reddish brown when young with prominent cherry like lenticels. Zelkova serrata is a medium sized tree usually growing up to 20m in height.
This is a fast growing roundheaded tree in its youth becoming moderate. According to japanese zelkova tree facts the trees are vase shaped and grow rapidly. It has a spreading generally upright branching vase shaped habit. Japanese zelkova tree has often been promoted as a substitute for the american elm ulmus americana now largely eliminated as a landscape tree because of its susceptibility to dutch elm disease while the japanese zelkova doesn t have quite the charm of the american elm it is an attractive tree and well worth planting.
It is often grown as an ornamental tree and used in bonsai there are two varieties zelkova serrata var. Green leaves turn yellow copper orange or deep red to purplish red in fall putting on a showy display.
Japanese zelkova zelkova serrata the japanese zelkova zelkova serrata and its cultivars have proven to be a popular and reliable urban tree being aware of the differences in the cultivars and some of the new ones being grown will help you make the right selection when planting this variety. Zelkova serrata japanese zelkova japanese elm or keyaki. With upright stems it forms a broad spreading habit and rounded crown the perfect specimen tree. Provides showy fall color.
It tolerates urban conditions well and can be used as a street tree. The peeling bark on older trees exposes orange patches which can be quite impressive. They are elegant trees well worth your consideration if you need medium to large deciduous trees for your backyard. The japanese zelkova is a good street and shade tree that has an appealing vase shaped form with a rounded crown.