The Japanese Zelkova is a large shade tree maturing at about 60' tall by 60' wide . It has an upright vased growth habit, hence the cultivar name "green vase." It has a rapid growth rate in youth, slowing to a medium growth rate during middle age and at maturity. Grows best in full to partial sun, and prefers moist, well-drained, deep soils but is very adaptable and urban tolerant (especially to heat, drought, pollution, poor soils, and soils of various pH levels).

Even though a member of the Elm Family, it has no disease or pest problems of significance, including Dutch Elm Disease. It may be the best replacement for the American Elm (Ulmus americana), in terms of Japanese Zelkova's resistance to Dutch Elm Disease and its vased growth habit (although it is not nearly as tall or arching as American Elm). Due to its very dense canopy when young, it should be periodically thinned to allow light flow into the interior canopy and to reduce the number of branches originating at the vase branch point.

Japanese Zelkova is very sensitive to being transplanted in autumn, and care should be taken to amend the soil, fertilize, water thoroughly, mulch adequately, and avoid salt aerosols.

Leaves: alternate, ovate, serrated to crenate margins, with a short acuminate tip and a base that is equal on both sides of the petiole. Dark green and clean summer foliage transitions to a very appealing mixture of yellow, gold, orange, burgandy, red, and wine fall color, in October and early November. 

Variants -- Zelkova serrata 'Green Vase' - more upright-vased in growth habit with strongly ascending branches, rapidly growing, to 65' tall by 55' wide, with yellow-orange to bronze-red fall color. Zelkova serrata 'Village Green' - more round-vased at maturity, to 45' tall by 40' wide, with wine-red fall color.