Japanese Zelkova
Zelkova serrata
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
One of the finest shade trees for a hard place. Zelkova serrata, the Japanese zelkova, is a deciduous tree of the elm family, native to Japan, Korea, and eastern China, long valued as the sacred keyaki of Japanese temples and a prized timber and bonsai subject. In the West the tree has become a leading street and lawn tree, in no small part as a graceful, disease-resistant stand-in for the American elms lost to Dutch elm disease.
The form is the selling point: a clean, upright trunk branching into a broad, spreading, vase-shaped crown, elm-like in silhouette but tougher and tidier. Serrated, pointed leaves, the source of the epithet serrata, cast dense summer shade and turn shades of bronze, russet, orange, and red in fall. The flowers are small and green and go unnoticed.
Zelkova is built for difficult conditions. The tree adapts to a wide range of soils, tolerates urban heat, compaction, wind, and drought once established, and resists the diseases and pests that plague many street trees, which is why landscapers reach for the plant so readily.
Give Zelkova serrata a large, sunny site with room for a broad crown, a lawn, a park, a wide verge, or a street, and enjoy generations of dense shade, strong structure, and fall color. Smaller selections and the bonsai tradition make the species adaptable well beyond the shade-tree role.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 5–8
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist
- Mature size
- Height 40–70 Feet · Spread 40–60 Feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Seasonality
- Deciduous
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.