Green Vase Zelkova

Green Vase Zelkova (Zelkova serrata 'Green Vase') is the deciduous shade tree to plant where an elm would once have gone. It reaches about 10m tall and 7m wide with an upright, vase shaped frame that lifts cleanly over cars and footpaths, and the serrated foliage turns orange through to deep red before it drops. Fast growing, frost hardy and undemanding once established.

Why you'll love it

• A clean vase shape. Branches sweep upward before spreading, so you get canopy overhead and clear space beneath, which is what a driveway needs.
• Strong autumn colour. Reliable orange through to deep red in cooler districts, and still worthwhile in a mild one.
• Shade in summer, sun in winter. Being deciduous it cools the house through the hot months, then lets the low winter light back in.
• Tough where other shade trees struggle. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant, wind tolerant and frost hardy, which is a rare combination.

Where it works best

Driveways and avenues. Plant 8m apart for a matched row. The upright habit lets the canopies meet overhead while the trunks stay clear of vehicles and pedestrians.

Shade over lawns and entertaining areas. One tree covers a good part of a backyard by maturity, with branching high enough to walk and sit under. The bare winter silhouette is worth having on its own.

Growing Green Vase Zelkova in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It is at home in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, colouring most strongly where the autumn nights are genuinely cold. Heat and wind do not trouble it once the roots are down.

Soil. Adaptable, but it wants drainage and depth. Improve the backfill with compost, and on heavy clay plant slightly proud of the surrounding level rather than in a bowl that collects water.

Water and feed. Deep weekly soaks through the first two summers, after which it is drought tolerant. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring supports the growth rate, with 75mm of mulch out to the drip line.

Pruning. Formative work matters more here than ongoing trimming. Over the first three or four winters select a single leader and remove tight forks, lift the lower branches to the clearance you want, then leave it alone.

What to expect when it arrives

Sizes run from 400mm and 30L pots up through 45L, 75L, 100L and 200L to a 400L advanced specimen. The 400mm and 30L plants are young trees with a formed leader, the value option if you can wait. From 100L up you are buying immediate height and a canopy that already reads as a tree.

Expect bare branches if it arrives between autumn and late winter. That is dormancy rather than damage, and those months are the best planting window. Growth is quick once established, often 50cm to 1m a year. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing trees to line a driveway
• Browse the deciduous tree range
• Advanced trees for immediate height
• Plants with reliable autumn colour

Common questions

How far from a house or paving should I plant it?

Allow at least 5m from a wall and 3m from paving. The roots are not aggressive by shade tree standards, but a 7m canopy needs room.

Is it a good elm substitute?

Yes, and that is why it is planted so widely in Australian streets. It gives the same vase shape and canopy density without the suckering habit that makes English elm a problem.

How quickly will it give shade?

From a 100L or larger tree, useful shade within three to four seasons. From a 30L or 400mm plant allow six to eight years.

Does it drop a lot of leaf litter?

It sheds the whole canopy over a few weeks in autumn, so plan for one solid clean up rather than constant sweeping. The leaves are small and break down quickly in a garden bed.