zelkova serrata

This will be a photo progression thread of my newly aquired zelkova serrata.I was at my local nursery speaking to the owner and he took me back to the very back corner of the nursery and showed me this zelkova. It had a $85 price tag and he advised me if I wanted it it would be $25.At that price I had to have it.So to home with me it went. I let it go dormant and last saturday it was over cast and cool and the tree had been dormant for 2 weeks so I decided to repot it in to its new home for the next few years. Here is the tree when I first got it
The bark on this one is awesomeTrunk diameter
b4 trunk chop After trunk chopLeft side
New front The nebari on this one needs a little time to develop and has some issues but that goes with the territory with nursery stock
So that is it for now we will see what spring brings

Spring has been plesant to this tree and it is full of leaves and is back budding down low around the major chop areas this makes me happy

Hi Seth.
Your zelkova looks like it may be developing a girdled root system. Have you checked the roots since you acquired it? Also what are your future plans for this tree, style wise? Lovely bark texture by the way.

What you see it the aftermath of me removing the girdlilg root it was left on for so long the root base under it was starting to grow around said root.I removed 80% if the old root system to let it grow a new shallower one more suitable for bonsai cultivation.I guess that is what you get when buying discounted nursery plants. for the price I paid for this I could approach graft some new roots at this area and eventually cut off this area or ground layer it .

This one is starting to break down low now and growing rapidly.Is there any suggestions on fixing the nebari where I removed a girdling root last winter b4 putting it in this container.I did not have controll of this tree untill last year.

As with all of my trees despite the extremely hot weather we have had This one is growing great aswell.I have decided to chop the top of this tree next spring ( white line)and possibly ground layer using a stainless steel hose clamp configuration similar to the hole in the tile method but modified to fit this applicaton ( I will post pics of this next spring) to get a better nebari on this tree. The healing has been good with this tree aswell approx 1/4" all the way around the large cuts and many smaller shoots to fufill the sacrifice branches of next year when I remove the large ones in spring

Love, zelkova and you got a heck of a deal. Progressing nicely. a bit off topic but I really love the black tubs you using for your training, can I ask where you get them from as I have been looking for them and haven't had much luck? Thanks.

Home_ d and lowwwwe they are in the cement and morter section.or just about any home improvement store cement and morter mixing tub.

Sweet, thanks!

So here are a few diffrent videos I shot of this tree and its progress from where I left off here . I will try to get some more updated photos to post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDtR6WHtMok&feature=plcp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0yAsVG131o&feature=plcp

You have no real alternative but to layer or thread graft new roots above the existing mess. No point in considering design until you have the nebari in place.

The mess has come along nicely since the last photos. I am in no hurry with this tree so I have been letting it grow and styling it as I go. I do have a issue with a lack of any roots on the back side of the tree . I am hesitant on layering due to never seeing another one with this kind of flaking bark and if I attempted root grafting the roots of another zelcova it might not match.



The real problem side




By the way I used to keep dendrobates azureus.

That's better.

I think the reason you've never seen a zelkova with bark like that is because it's not a zelcova - it's an elm of some sort. Zelcova leaves are flatter, longer, have longer petioles and, most importantly, are not double or triple toothed, as are the leaves on your tree.

Could you show us a picture of one mature leaf, maybe against a piece of white paper (for contrast.) I agree I doubt that is Zelcova. As has been mentioned Zelcova are single saw toothed.

-Jay

It definitely isn't a Zelkova. I'm guessing it's a Hop-hornbeam or an Elm.

Now that you all have mentioned it you might be right I was going off of what the nursery tag said and the look of my japanese hornbeam leaf shown here

The leaf does have some hornbeam traits but not the deep vein grooves of my japanese hornbeam shown above . Here are a few leaf shots from the tree.

The more I look at the leaf it appears to look like carpinus caroliniana but the bark is all wrong for that species and the lack of any muscleing is strange also. At least in the ones I have seen here in South Carolina

OK american hop hornbean is my decision. I was unfamiliar with this species before now and with what the leaves look like and the bark sold me that this is what this tree is.

Regarding grafting roots, if you take cuttings from this tree, get them to root and them use them for the grafts you will be garrenteed the right type of characteristics for the tree.

Seth, you can't really compare hophornbeam (Ostrya sp) with Japanese hornbeam (Carpinus japonica or C. laxiflora) they are different species. The teeth on hornbeam leaves are generally finer and more tapered than on your samples, so I still think its an elm. Pity you didn't show the petioles in the photos. However, the acid test is to feel the upper surface of the leaves: if they are rough with tiny bristles, it's an elm; if they are smooth, it's not.

My guess is it's either Ostrya virginiana or Ostrya japonica. I have both trees in my back yard and I'm 99% certain, especially after seeing the bark and the videos.

Ask and you shall receive. After further observation the tops of the leaves do infact have minute hairs that give the surface a slight ruff texture.




Under side

Trunk and bark

'Tis elm, for sure, probably U. americana. Very short petiole, pubescent upper surface, toothing, slightly oblique (unequal) leaf base, and the little bracts at the base of the petioles... plus the shoots, twigs and bark are all typical of elm. You should be pleased, it's a fine species for bonsai and the leaves will reduce to as little as a fifth of their current size with time and increased density.

For what it's worth, I would suggest shortening the trunk and aiming for a more squat, robust design.
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I'm still guessing Hop hornbeam the leaves are too thin for an elm. It's got the shaggy bark and the leaves are identical.

I will have to look up the elm species and try to get a accurate identification. I do have the encylopedia of north american trees. I am pleased with it no matter what species it is. So far I have not seen any flowering froming on this this tree so that is why I am not sold on either species just yet.

Dendro I have a good amount of squat robust trees. With this one I was going for a more slender femanine look plus the bark is awesome on this tree and the more of it there is to show off the better . I will be doing a few videos to post on the tube tomorrow and will try to get some diffrent angles of this one .