The lovely zelkovas are related to elms and thus susceptible to that scourge of elm trees - Dutch Elm Disease (DED).
A medium-sized, occassionaly large tree with a graceful, widespreading habit forming a rounded crown. The oval shaped leaves are edged with slender-pointed coarse teeth and turn an attractive bronze or red in autumn.
The species, introduced in 1861, occurs naturally in Japan, Korea and China. Mature trees develop beautiful beech-like trunks and the hard, resilient wood is used for gun stocks and ceremonial drums.