Japanese Zelkova
Zelkova serrata
Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 35–45 ft tall and 10–20 ft wide, needs medium water, and prefers full sun. Marginal cold hardiness for the Front Range, winter dieback and stress are common. Better suited to milder zones.
medium water35–45 ft tall and 10–20 ft wide
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At a glance
- Rating
- Right spot only (FRTRL: Conditionally Recommended)
- Botanical name
- Zelkova serrata
- Variety / cultivar
- Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino'
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 35–45 ft tall and 10–20 ft wide
- Mature form
- Vase-shaped
- Spacing / clearance
- ~20 ft of clearance
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5–8
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Medium
- Fall color
- Red, orange, bronze
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Pollinator value
- low
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold HardinessHardy most winters but marginal in our cold pockets, so give it a protected spot and expect the odd year of winter dieback.
- Watch: ExposureIt wants shelter; open, windy, reflected-heat sites batter it, so tuck it against a building or a windbreak.
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- low
Frequently asked questions
- Is Japanese Zelkova good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Japanese Zelkova is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- Why is Japanese Zelkova only conditionally recommended on the Front Range?
- The main catches here: Hardy most winters but marginal in our cold pockets, so give it a protected spot and expect the odd year of winter dieback.
- How big does Japanese Zelkova get?
- It matures to about 35–45 ft tall and 10–20 ft wide.
- How much room does Japanese Zelkova need?
- Give Japanese Zelkova about 20 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Japanese Zelkova grow into?
- Japanese Zelkova typically grows into a vase shape, a narrower base flaring to a high, arching crown that lifts over a patio or street. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Japanese Zelkova hardy on the Front Range?
- Japanese Zelkova is hardy in USDA 5–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: Hardy most winters but marginal in our cold pockets, so give it a protected spot and expect the odd year of winter dieback.
- How much water does Japanese Zelkova need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Japanese Zelkova grow?
- Japanese Zelkova is a moderate-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Japanese Zelkova live?
- Japanese Zelkova has a moderate lifespan for a Front Range tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- What color does Japanese Zelkova turn in fall?
- Japanese Zelkova turns red, orange, and bronze in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Japanese Zelkova native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
