Japanese Zelkova

Arbor walk #59, Treekeeper ID #5340

A member of the Elm family which has been promoted as a replacement to American Elms because of its high degree of resistance to Dutch Elm Disease. As the name implies, the tree is native to Japan as well as Taiwan and eastern China, where it is highly valued as a commercial timber source.

This particular specimen is quite old and has been cut back several times, which has resulted a uniquely high number of diverging trunks.

Common NameJapanese Zelkova
Latin NameZelkova serrata
Indigenous Name(s)
Cultivar/Variety
Commercial Name
Global Distribution
Where to find Arbor Walk #59 on WashU campus
Our Japanese Zelkova in space
GPS Coordinates

N/A

Percent Concrete

N/A

Distance to Buildings
YearClose Building #1Close Building #2Close Building #3
2020Whittemore House, 14.90 mHarbison House, 54.23 mStix International House, 58.46 m
Distance to Other Species
YearClose Species #1Close Species # 2Close Species # 3
2020Common Hackberry, 8.62 mPin Oak, 13.12 mPin Oak, 15.26 m
Our Japanese Zelkova through time
Standard Measurements
YearHeight (m)DBH (cm)Caliper (m)Crown Diameter N-S (m)Crown Diameter E-W (m)Average Crown Diameter (m)
202024.788645.86N/A17.0916.6716.88
202328.07162N/A18.2719.1918.73
Nests and Pests
YearDescription
2020Several large patches of reddish fungal growth plus small red ‘lenticels’/eruptions clustered in certain areas
Patches of dark bacterial wetwood on an old wound
2 round holes from boring beetles
Areas directly under the bark show heavy insect activity, including a silken coccoon and fennel seed-shaped eggcases
Many large cankers
Covered in tiny black bugs just under the bark (<2mm length); appear to be beetle larvae
Small shoot of ivy growing up the base of the trunk
How to identify a Japanese Zelkova
Leaf Identification

The leaves of the Japanese Zelkova are 2″ to 5″ long with very serrated margins and pinnate veins that sometimes split off in pairs toward the leaf margins. They are a medium green with a pale green underside and turn yellow or red in the fall.

Twig and Bud Identification

The twig is golden brown and slightly zig zag.

Bark Identification

The Japanese Zelkova has gray bark with irregularly shaped scales that do not peel but can flake off.

Fruit Identification

The fruits are small, ovoid drupes. They are not showy or particularly attractive. They ripen in the fall.

[photo forthcoming]

Flower Identification

The flowers of the Japanese Zelkova are green and inconspicuous. They bloom in the spring.

[photo forthcoming]

Relationship of Zelkova serrata to other species in the arboretum
Additional resources on the Japanese Zelkova

Take a look around Arbor Walk Tree #59