Zelkova serrata Green Vase

The Zelkova serrata 'Green Vase' is a variety of Siberian Elm that is interesting for its natural resistance to Dutch Elm disease and its more modest size, which it owes to a dense and spreading semi-open crown, elegantly carried on a low branching. The tree is also remarkable for its autumn foliage in shades of gold, bronze, and orange. With a relatively fast growth, this elm is a beautiful shade tree for large gardens. It will thrive in cool, humus-rich, and clayey soils.

The Zelkova serrata 'Green Vase' ('Flekova') is a horticultural variety selected in 1983 in the USA. Its wild ancestor, the Siberian Elm, is native to the Caucasus. 'Green Vase' is a beautiful deciduous tree, perfectly hardy, still little cultivated in our garden. The habit of this variety is majestic, its short trunk branches relatively low, into several upright branches. The crown, both dense and spreading, widens over time. The trunk has a decorative, smooth grey bark, peeling to reveal a brown-orange sub-bark. With reasonably fast growth, the Zelkova 'Green Vase' reaches about 15-16 m (49-52ft) in height and 10-11 m (33-36ft) in width. Its branches bear alternate, petiolate, finely pointed, toothed leaves, dark green in colour, turning to golden yellow, orange, and bronze in autumn before falling. The inconspicuous green flowering occurs in April. Common Elms (Ulmus campestris) have been decimated by Dutch Elm disease, a fungal disease caused by a fungus transmitted by a beetle called the Elm Bark Beetle. The Zelkova serrata 'Green Vase', belonging to the same family, is naturally resistant to this disease.

The Zelkova Green Vase is a beautiful shade or avenue tree, best suited for large open spaces. Prune in winter to balance the branches. It can be planted as a specimen tree, along a main thoroughfare, or in a grove. It can be paired with a red maple, a lime tree, or a horse chestnut. This plant can also be trained as a bonsai.