Informal Zelkova

Here is a little tree I acquired in spring of '07. It's been evolving nicely and I will probably be able to get the basic apex branch structure in place this summer. I'm thinking that the apex will come back over to the right. The secondary ramification is already starting to develop on the main branch.


Here is the tree as purchased.

Are you certain that it is a Zelkova? The bark doesn't look right.

Chinese elms are often labeled as "Zelkova" in this country because of Dutch elm disease and for other reasons.

Whatever it is, I like it.

Thanks Jim.

It was sold to me as a Zelkova and the leaves seem right but I haven't done a critical analysis. The bark is a little roughed up and you can see where there are lichens growing on it so it could be deceptive, but you could be right. I'll try to get definitive this spring.

Smaller pot a little more rustic and a slight tip to the right and it would look just right. Probably a better tree in winter than in leaf.

Nice tree.

Neil

NeilDellinger wrote:Smaller pot a little more rustic and a slight tip to the right and it would look just right. Probably a better tree in winter than in leaf.

Nice tree.

Neil

Thanks and good call on the pot. The one it is in is appropriate for it's development at this point I think. Another year maybe when I get serious about finer ramification.

Thats a lovely shape on that one.

Your tree looks to be a chinese elm for sure and not a zelkova judging from the bark. Here is a link to a small article I wrote about the two.

http://www.dallasbonsai.com/bonsai_tree_care_TomM_ChineseElm2.html

Well I certainly see what you mean regarding the bark. Here is a quick pic of a leaf from last fall I scavenged from the soil surface. It is about 3/4" long. What do you think?

No comments? To me this looks much more like the zelkova leaf shown in Thomas' article than the elm leaf.

I agree with you, it does look like a zelkova leaf.

Maybe it's a zelkova nire, that develops a cork bark after a few years, or a hybrid?...

it inspired me this, with another pot and maybe different angle... what do you think?