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Musashino Zelkova

Zelkova serrata 'Musashino'

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Musashino Zelkova (Zelkova serrata 'Musashino') at Frisella Nursery

Musashino Zelkova

Musashino Zelkova

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  45 feet

Spread:  15 feet

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  5a

Other Names:  Japanese Zelkova

Description:

This variety is tailored for tight spaces, with densely upswept branching; interesting peeling bark and reliable fall color; low maintenance and trouble-free, an excellent choice for street plantings or smaller areas

Ornamental Features

Musashino Zelkova is primarily valued in the landscape for its rigidly columnar form. It has rich green deciduous foliage. The serrated pointy leaves turn an outstanding coppery-bronze in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Musashino Zelkova is a deciduous tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Musashino Zelkova is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Shade

Planting & Growing

Musashino Zelkova will grow to be about 45 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Shade 
Applications
Fall Color  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features

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