Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino'
Zelkova serrata
Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' (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
Photos
- Photo 1: no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子
- Photo 2: no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子
- Photo 3: no rights reserved, uploaded by Adam Kranz
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5–8
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 35–45 ft tall and 10–20 ft wide
- Mature form
- Vase-shaped
- Spacing / clearance
- ~20 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Medium
What it looks like, and when
- Fall color
- Red, orange, bronze
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Colorado native
- No
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.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' 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 'Musashino' 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 'Musashino' get?
- It matures to about 35–45 ft tall and 10–20 ft wide.
- How much room does Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' need?
- Give Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' about 20 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' grow into?
- Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' 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 'Musashino' hardy on the Front Range?
- Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' 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 'Musashino' need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' grow?
- Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' is a moderate-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' live?
- Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' has a moderate lifespan for a Front Range tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- What color does Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' turn in fall?
- Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' turns red, orange, and bronze in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino' native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
