Zelkova serrata 'Musashino'

RHS Plant Profile
Japanese zelkova 'Musashino'

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Trees

A slender, columnar tree, reaching 10m tall in 20 years, with grey bark and toothed leaves that take on fiery autumn colour. Tolerant of a range of conditions it is widely planted as a street tree in Japan, and makes a fine specimen or avenue tree

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Ulmaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Zelkova are large deciduous trees or shrubs with neatly serrate, ovate leaves and inconspicuous flowers and fruit; good autumn colour
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade with protection from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn. Take greenwood cuttings (preferably from young plants) in summer. Graft in winter. Remove rooted suckers in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural

Pruning

See pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to horse chestnut scale

Diseases

May be susceptible to bacterial canker, Dutch elm disease and honey fungus (rarely)