#820 Zelkova serrata Common Names: Japanese zelkova, sawtooth zelkova, sawleaf zelkova Family: Ulmaceae (elm Family) Get link to this Profile or click for Datasheet

This large multi-trunked Japanese zelkova can be seen at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta Georgia.

Location
Zelkova serrata is native to Japan, Taiwan and southern Korea. This tree is often used in American and European landscapes.

Culture
Japanese zelkova is adaptable to a wide range of site and soil conditions. It grows in alkaline to acidic soils; is wind and drought tolerant; and endures urban air pollution. It is susceptible to Dutch elm disease, but the elm bark beetle which spreads the disease rarely feeds on zelkova so infection is rare.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Moisture: Established trees are fairly drought tolerant, but the finest specimens are grown with regular watering.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 - 9.
Propagation: Zelkova can be propagated by seed sown outdoors in fall. Greenwood cuttings taken in spring or summer from young plants can be made to take root. Root suckers can be transplanted. Named selections are usually grafted or budded onto seedling stock.

Japanese zelkova leaf and bark detail (note the patchy gray-green lichens growing on the smooth bark).

Features
The zelkovas are related and quite similar to the elms (genus Ulmus) but can be distinguished by their unwinged fruits and their leaves which are symmetrical rather than uneven at their bases. There are five or six species of Zelkova but this one is most common in cultivation.

Steve Christman 10/8/00; updated 1/25/04

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