Species Japanese zelkova
orange-olive foliage with gray branches

Japanese zelkova

Zelkova serrata 'Village Green'

Japanese zelkova, or Zelkova Serrata 'Village Green', is an elegant and stately tree native to parts of Japan and China. Its lacy, serrated foliage is a deep emerald green in summer, turning a bright yellow in the fall before shedding its leaves every winter. Its bark is smooth and light gray, with prominent branches and a distinctive vase-shaped habit. This versatile tree can reach heights of up to 100 feet, making it an excellent choice for a shady grove or specimen tree in the garden. It's adaptable to a range of soil types and is relatively drought tolerant. Prune it regularly to maintain its unique form and attractive shape. Japanese zelkova is truly an eye-catching tree for any landscape.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Greenwood Cuttings,Grafting Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 8

Flowers:

Green Flowers In Spring

Sun:

Full sun, Part sun/part shade

Soil:

Rocky , gravelly , dry, Well-drained

Fruits:

green,red,brown Fruits In Autumn Ready In

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Water Japanese zelkova once a week, providing it with 1.5 inches of water. During the growing season (spring to fall), apply deep, thorough waterings every 7 to 10 days, depending on weather conditions. If the weather is cooler or if there has been more than normal rainfall, skip a week. During the dormant season (winter), water less often but still provide occasional deep waterings to help sustain root health.

sunlight

Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata 'Village Green') does best when grown in full sun to partial shade locations, which means that it should receive at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day. It can thrive in areas with dappled sunlight and will even do well in deep shade but will not flower or fruit if it receives too much or too little light. It also needs adequate air circulation, so light breezes are ideal for this species.

pruning

Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata 'Village Green') is best pruned in late winter or early spring, before it starts to leaf out. Pruning should involve selectively removing dead or diseased branches, as well as branches that rub together or those that are too closely spaced. Branches with generally weaker structure should also be removed. Once all affected branches have been removed, pruning should focus on opening up the center of the tree to allow more air circulation. Do not attempt to shear or top the tree. In some cases, the top of the tree may need light pruning, but if done it should be done sparingly. Finally, the last step in pruning should involve cutting branches back to their natural growth pattern and at an outward angle to encourage outward growth.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

Harvesting of Zelkova serrata 'Village Green' typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.

Starts Flowering

Japanese zelkova typically start flowering in April.

Harvest Fruit

Harvesting of Zelkova serrata 'Village Green' typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.

Hardiness Map