Zelkova serrata 'Village Green'
Village Green Japanese Zelkova

Family:

Ulmaceae (Elm Family) 32

Genus:

Zelkova (Zelkova Keaki) 6

Plant Type:

Tree 569

Growth Forms:

Upright 571

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 5 251

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 836

Flower Notes:

Green (Tri-monoecious (male, female, and bisexual flowers); not ornamentally important)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Deep green foliage in the summer); Red (Wine to rusty-red fall foliage)

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Drupes; not ornamentally important)

Ultimate Height:

40-60 feet

Ultimate Spread:

30-50 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Widely adapted to soils, including those with a high pH; prefers well-drained, moist, fertile soil

Range:

Cultivated origin

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves simple, alternate, ovate to oblong-ovate, 1.3-2" long (and longer), sharply serrate with acuminate teeth, dark green and somewhat rough above. Offset (oblique) at leaf base. The straight trunk has smooth gray bark when young, exfoliating to reveal orange and brown inner bark at maturity.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Drought Tolerant 288

Pest and/or Disease Resistant 96

Pollution Tolerant 217

Additional Information

Village Green is a fast and vigorous grower that is widely considered one of the best Zelkova serrata variants (it is frequently compared to Green Vase). It has a smooth, straight trunk and an upright, vase-shaped form. An excellent shade tree, probably one of the best substitutes for Ulmus americana in form and gracefulness, but slightly smaller. A beautiful wood grain for furniture, etc. This variant is strongly resistant to Dutch Elm Disease, leaf-eating beetles, and bark beetles.