When we look at trees, passing by as we walk down the street, or as we park our car, we don’t give much thought as to where they come from.
Like humans, trees didn’t start out on pavement or in pots. They came from forests, mountains and valleys. We are all native to the wild forests and fields.
The Legend of Zelkova: Elementum
Zelkova the parking lot tree, or street tree, is native to Japan, Korea, eastern China and Taiwan. Its scientific name is Zelkova serrata (Japanese zelkova, Japanese elm 欅 (ケヤキ) keyaki /槻 (ツキ) tsuki; Chinese: 榉树/櫸樹 jǔshù; Korean: 느티나무 neutinamu)
According to the Korean Forest Service, in 1989 the largest number of trees over 500 years old were specimens of Zelkova serrata.
Today Zelkova is rare in the wild, especially of the two westernmost species in the Eurasian group, Z. sicula (which is known to only exist in two small populations) and Z. abelicea. This is causing a call for conservation action.
Zelkova’s first cultivation outside of Asia was by Philipp Franz von Siebold, who took it to the Netherlands in 1830. And the tree has only recently been dubbed the “parking lot tree” and “street tree.”
To identify Zelkova serrata, it is a medium-sized tree that usually grows around 98 feet tall. It has a short trunk that divides into many upright and erect spreading stems that form a broad, rounded-topped tree head. The leaves are green to dark green throughout spring and summer, changing to yellow, orange and red in autumn.
It develops flowers in spring with leaves. The buds are oval with many arranged, dark brown scales.
I chose Zelkova for my main character in – The Legend of Zelkova, because of its rarity in the wild, and is not well known among the populous. Another reason is because of where it comes from, its history and the name itself.
So I ask you, the next time you pass a tree, think of the forest it once grew. Lush among its fellow plants. With rich soil, ample sun and fresh water. Don’t we all wish for the same?