top of page

Zelkova serrata

(Thunb.) Makino

Japanese Zelkova

Ulmaceae

Zelkova serrata is a deciduous tree species in the family Ulmaceae. It is native to East Asia, and is commonly cultivated as an ornamental or sacred tree.

Description

Zelkova serrata is a deciduous tree that grows up to 30 m tall, with a trunk growing up to 1 m dbh (diameter at breast height). The crown is often round, with symmetrically dividing branches. Leaves are alternate, simple, elliptic to narrowly ovate in outline, 3 to 10 cm long and 1.5 to 5 cm wide, with a rounded base and a long pointed tip. The upper surface is somewhat rough, and the lower surface is smooth or sparsely hairy along the veins. On either side of the midvein are 9 to 15 pairs of lateral veins, each ending in a single tooth. The petiole is short, 2 to 6 mm long. In fall, they turn rusty orange to red. The bark is pale gray to brownish gray, and flaky; branches are brownish and slender, hairless or with sparse hairs. Separate male and female flowers appear on the same tree, around the same time as the leaves, and grow at the base of leaves. Flowers are on short, 3 mm long stalks, and are fairly inconspicuous. These mature into fruits (termed drupes), which are about 3 mm in diameter, pea green, round, and with inconspicuous ridges (Wu et al. 2003; Sibley 2009).

The leaves of Zelkova serrata are similar to the related elms (Ulmus) but the exfoliating bark and fruit should separate the two genera (Sibley 2009). In China, it may be confused with the Chinese zelkova (Zelkova sinica) and Schneider’s zelkova (Zelkova schneideriana), where there is potential evidence of hybridization in the past (Naciri et al. 2019). Zelkova sinica differs in having larger drupes (5 to 7 mm in diameter) without ridges, while Zelkova schneideriana has densely hairy twigs and leaves that are densely hairy below (Wu et al. 2003). The Taiwanese population has been designated as a variety of this species (var. tarokoensis), but a genetic study showed that it is more closely related to Zelkova schneideriana (Naciri et al. 2019).

Uses

​Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.

Zelkova serrata is often cultivated as a street tree or shade tree, particularly in cities. It is tolerant of urban conditions and resistant to Dutch elm disease, which targets its relatives, the elms. It prefers moist, rich, well-drained soils in full sun. It grows in USDA zones 5 to 8 (MBG). In Japan, it is considered sacred and is planted near monasteries (Naciri et al. 2019).

Zelkova wood is heavily used and desired in Asia, because it is hard, heavy, rot-resistant, and with an attractive reddish color. In particular, it is used for furniture in Japan (Bétrisey et al. 2018). The bark and leaves of Zelkova serrata are used in traditional medicine (Naciri et al. 2019; Wu et al. 2003).

Distribution

In the wild, Zelkova serrata grows in riparian habitats (Naciri et al. 2019) such as along stream banks in ravines, at altitudes between 500 to 2000 m. It is native to the Kuril Islands of Russia, Japan (specifically Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu), Korean, and China and Taiwan (from Liaoning province south to Guangdong province, up to Sichuan and Gansu provinces, but see above for discussion of Taiwanese populations) (Wu et al. 2003; Ohwi et al. 1965). It has become naturalized in Germany and some locations in the eastern United States (Hassler 2022).

Status

Zelkova serrata is listed on the IUCN Red List as “Near Threatened”. Although it is commonly cultivated in Japan, it is surprisingly uncommon throughout its range, with populations restricted to remote areas. This is even more true in China and Korea, where most trees except those near temples have been cut down for timber; the remaining populations are few and far between (Bétrisey et al. 2018).

References

Bétrisey, S., Song, Y., and Kozlowski, G. 2018. <i>Zelkova serrata</i>. <i>The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species</i>. <a>https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T61967528A61967548.en</a>.<br><br>Hassler, M. 2022. World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 14.0; last update 2022 August 2. [accessed 2022 Aug 15]. <a>www.worldplants.de</a><br><br>MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Zelkova serrata. <i>Plant Finder</i>. [accessed 2022 Aug 25]. <a>https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287409</a><br><br>Naciri, Y., Christe, C., Bétrisey, S., Song, Y.-G., Deng, M., Garfì, G., Kozlowski, G. 2019. Species delimitation in the East Asian species of the relict tree genus <i>Zelkova</i> (Ulmaceae): A complex history of diversification and admixture among species. <i>Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution</i>, 134: 172–185. <br><br>Ohwi, J., Meyer, F. G., and Walker E, H. 1965. <i>Flora of Japan</i>. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.<br><br>Sibley, D. A. 2009. <i>The Sibley Guide to Trees</i>. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.<br><br>Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2003. <i>Flora of China. Vol. 5 (Ulmaceae through Basellaceae)</i>. Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.

Description

©2018-2026 by Luka Sato. Created with Wix.com

bottom of page