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Japanese Zelkova

Zelkova serrata

  • Great Shade Tree and Street Tree
  • Showy Fall Colors
  • Unique Peeling Bark Esposes Orange Patches
  • Tolerant of Wind, Drought, and Air Pollution
  • Grows 50'to 80' Tall with a 50'to 75' spread
  • Zones 5 to 8
  • Can't Ship To: AK, AZ, HI, OR
Guaranteed Healthy Delivery
Item # 3793 | Shipping Height: 2' - 3'
*Mem. Price:$8.98
Reg. Price:$13.50
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Zones 5 - 8
Zones 5 - 8

Hardiness Zones: Zones 5 - 8
The Japanese Zelkova can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

ornamental tree
ornamental tree

Type of tree:
The Japanese Zelkova falls into the following type(s): Ornamental Trees, Shade Trees

50' - 80' High
50' - 80' High

Mature Height:
The Japanese Zelkova grows to be 50' - 80' feet in height.

50' - 75' Spread
50' - 75' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Japanese Zelkova has a spread of about 50' - 75' at full maturity.

Medium Growth
Medium Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a medium growth rate. [More about this.]

Full Sun
Full Sun

Sun:
This zelkova does well in full sun.

Various Soils
Various Soils

Soil:
The Japanese zelkova grows in acidic to slightly alkaline, moist to dry, compacted, wide range of soil textures.

Vase Shape
Vase Shape

Shape:
This zelkova has vase shape.

More Info
More Info

Attributes:
The Japanese zelkova is a handsome tree with showy fall color, attractive exfoliating bark, and a symmetrical, vase-shaped growth habit. It makes a good street tree because of its dense shade, ability to grow in marginal soils and resistance to pests and pollution.

History/Lore/Use:
Japanese zelkova is native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Manchuria. This tree is also called the "Keaki". The timber is high quality, durable and strong with a beautiful grain. It is used for furniture and in construction. It is a popular bonai tree.

Moisture:
Japanese zelkova prefers moist, well drained soil but is very drought tolerant once established.

Leaves:
The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to oblong-ovate, 1 1/4"-2" long with serrated margins, dark green and slightly rough above. Fall colors are shades of yellow, orange, brown to deep red to reddish purple.

Flower Color:
green, not showy

Bloom Time:
Spring with the leaves.

Fruit Description:
Small, kidney bean-shaped drupe about 1/4" across ripening in the fall.

Japanese Zelkova is a good street and shade tree that has an appealing vase-shaped form with a rounded crown. Green leaves turn yellow, copper, orange, or deep red to purplish-red in fall putting on a showy display. The peeling bark on older trees exposes orange patches which can be quite impressive. Prefers moist, well drained soils and full sun. It is pH adaptable, and when established is tolerant of wind, drought, and air pollution.

Arborday.org Hardiness Zone Map
Spring Shipping Fall Shipping
Color Zone Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline 		Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline
  2 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  3 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  4 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  5 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  6 03/19–05/12 05/07 11/01–12/03 11/19
  7 03/11–05/07 04/30 11/05–12/10 11/26
  8 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  9 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  10 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, HI, OR , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

  Standard Dwarf
  Mature
Height		 Space
Needed		 Mature
Height		 Space
Needed
Apple 20' - 25' 35' x 35'

10' **

 10' x 10' ++
Peach 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry 30' 20' x 25' 12' - 15' 10' x 10'
Sour Cherry 20' 20' x 20' 8' 10' x 10'
Pear 20' 20' x 20' 12' - 15' 12' x 12'
Apricot 20' 20' x 20'    
Plum 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
      ** semi-dwarf 12' - 15'
++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

  • They are very affordable.
  • Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
  • They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.


If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.