Zelkova Or Ulmus Parvifolia?

joakimlinden

I bought this cheap, but very good looking for it's price, tree and now I'm considering if the label on the tree is wrong. The plastic thingy that was pushed into the soil says "Zelkova" but I think the leaves look more like Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia).

Any thoughts?

Attached Images

zelkova.jpg (13.5 KB, 178 views)

__________________
Best regards, Joakim

Advertisement

Thomas_J.

Yours looks to be a ch. elm rather than a true zelkova. Notice if you can how much larger the leaves are on this zelkova as compared to your leaves.

Attached Images

zel#11.jpg (51.0 KB, 161 views)

__________________
Thomas J.

Thomas_J.

But the biggest difference would be the ends of the leaves. Notice the point on the ends of these two leaves as compared to the roundness on yours. Also you might notice how much more serrated the zelkova leaves are as compared to the ch. elm.

Attached Images

zel#22.jpg (40.0 KB, 141 views)

__________________
Thomas J.

Camay123

I vote for Ulmus parvifolia. Just at looking under the leaves make me say this.

__________________
Selling Bonsai tree seeds.
Flat rate shipping fee worldwide
Over 50 species in stock
Germination instructions

joakimlinden

Thank you all for the feedback!
From what I can see in the images I've found, the Zelkova has more "taper" at the leaf-tips - my leaves are more round.

Are there any other signs I can look for? I'm not totally convinced yet - and since I live in an apartment with limited options for winter storage, a chinese elm would be much "better" for me. Zelkova's are, according to my few sources, a strictly outdoors tree.

__________________
Best regards, Joakim

Bonsainut

Yes, Zelcova leafs out at least 2-4 weeks later in the spring and has rougher undersides to their leaves and It has a grey spotted smoothish bark.

Both are out door trees, we just trick our Elms into thinking they like it indoors. G'luck

__________________
Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

Bonsainut

joakimlinden,
There are so many varieties of these. Many folks start these trees from seed. Each can have subtle changes from their parents.

I understand your wanting to know, but the two are not as different as" one is going to live and the other isn't." They would both "survive" inside but maybe not "thrive". Make sense?

Maybe you could concentrate your research on how to keep a
tree like this indoors.

Trees like (In descending order)Water, light, fresh air, food. ---if you can get these satisfied your tree will live.

Good luck with your new purchase.

__________________
Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

joakimlinden

Thank you Bonsainut - that sounds good to me, at least I'm not too worried right now.

I'm going to solve the outdoor overwinter process sometime, right now I just concentrate on learning and observing. This tree is the closest thing to a nice looking bonsai that I have, the others are in the early stages of pre pre pre-potentilla and need a few years before getting a trunk like this one... That's why I'm eager to make it survive the winter.


Another question might be in order here. I've already gotten advice at a swedish forum but a second opinion is always nice:

The roots of this tree absolutely fill up the bottom half of the pot. It's almost impossible to see any soil there - just roots (they are white tipped and strong so they seem healthy). Should I attempt a minor root pruning or should I follow the advice I got and wait til spring? I also got a tip about temporarily planting the whole rootmass - as it is - in a larger container, to give the roots some space while I wait for spring...

Any ideas?

__________________
Best regards, Joakim

Bonsainut

Joakim,
I think the wait for spring is super good advice. Things are going to slow down here and fall will be here before you know it.

I know you are eager...

__________________
Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce