Japanese elm

Meagi · Post by **Meagi** » October 28th, 2012, 4:53 pm

Hi does anyone have any info on bonsai Japanese elms .
I seen a few today some red in color
Regards

shibui · Post by **shibui** » October 28th, 2012, 8:40 pm

Japanese grey bark Elm - Zelkova serrata.
One of the classic Japanese bonsai species. Hiro once said that Japanese bonsai growers ONLY grow zelkova as Broom style because this is the natural shape for this tree. Some westerners produce informal upright and other styles with it. Is one point of view right?

New growth can have reddish leaves but these will ripen to green in a few weeks.
I have found zelkova to be one of the toughest species regarding watering. When others, even tough species are wilting and dieing from dehydration zelkova is last to suffer.
Younger trees can fail to leaf out in spring. Doesn't affect all trees but this has happened here regularly but I have not worked out why yet. Also appears to be happening with Chinese Quince.

Zelkova does not ramify as easily as chinese elm and trident maple so getting a good one will take time. Alternate leaf and relatively long internodes make larger trees easier to achieve

Grow them the same as maples and other elms.
Propagate by seed, cuttings and root cuttings or layers.

Meagi · Post by **Meagi** » October 29th, 2012, 5:45 am

Thanks for the info seen a few on the weekend
May invest in one if I can find a good one
Can't beat a good elm of any sort .
Regards

fae · Post by **fae** » October 29th, 2012, 6:19 am

Interesting post Shibui, thanks for the information.

I have a Zelkova, which I repotted over the winter season. It has only just started to throw out new shoots,much slower than all my other deciduous trees. Thought I had killed it.

Fiona

shibui · Post by **shibui** » October 29th, 2012, 8:25 pm

That is one of the characteristics of zelkova Fae. Always the last to leaf up in spring so I leave their repotting to last.

Mojo Moyogi · Post by **Mojo Moyogi** » October 30th, 2012, 6:28 pm

fae wrote:Interesting post Shibui, thanks for the information.

I have a Zelkova, which I repotted over the winter season. It has only just started to throw out new shoots,much slower than all my other deciduous trees. Thought I had killed it.

Fiona

Hi Fiona, I have found that Zelkovas are the last deciduous species to leaf out in spring and the first to lose their leaves in autumn. Neil, I agree with Hiro that this tree is best as a broom, but I havent seen a really good Zs broom in Australia yet. Someone must have one?

Cheers,
Mojo

Meagi · Post by **Meagi** » October 30th, 2012, 6:32 pm

Thanks guys lets see who has the best broom (or any style )
Japanese elm
Hard to beat them for color I reckon .

Mojo Moyogi · Post by **Mojo Moyogi** » October 30th, 2012, 6:34 pm

In case anyone was curious as to what I mean when I say Broom, I like mine classical, not informal trunk helmet style (to quote Nick Lenz). My classification of "really good Broom" See below.

DSC02673.jpg

Outstanding work, Japanese, hopefully not impossible for me

Cheers,
Mojo

Meagi · Post by **Meagi** » October 30th, 2012, 6:39 pm

Now that's a tree!!!!
Thanks mojo

Mojo Moyogi · Post by **Mojo Moyogi** » October 30th, 2012, 6:44 pm

From memory, I think that pic was taken by another AusBonsai member at the Tokyo Green Club, not sure who though. I have a few pics of shohin broom Zelkovas that I like even more than that tree, somewhere on my PC. I'll have a look.

Cheers,
Mojo

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