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Zelkova

Zelkova serrata

Also called Japanese zelkova, Keyaki and Zelkova 'Green Vase'

Garden plant · Trees

Planted as the elm's replacement after Dutch elm disease, because it is an elm cousin the beetle does not care for and it has the same wine-glass shape. Slow for five years, then not.

Care at a glance

Ease
Easy
Water
Once a weekWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
Light
Full sun
Feed
Not needed
Humidity
Average
Hardiness
Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
Size
18 m tall · 15 m across
Lifecycle
Tree
Origin
Japan, Korea and eastern China

Is it safe for pets and people?

PetsNothing recorded against it

No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.

PeopleNot checked yet

Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.

Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.

A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

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