The Keaki tree is native to  Japan, Korea, eastern China and Taiwan. In the UK it is planted as an ornamental tree and is a welcome sight to any green space. In Exeter is not widely planted which is a shame as this tree has stunning Autumn features and very pretty bark. It was first introduced into the UK in 1861.  In Osaka, Japan there is a Keaki tree called "Noma Keyaki" which is  1000 years old.
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It is a deciduous tree and capable of growing to heights of up to 30m. The growth habit is a single stem / trunk which is typically quite short. The canopy has many erect spreading branches and the crown is a broad and rounded. The rate of growth changes as it matures, during it's earlier years the growth is quite rapid and it slows down with age.
ENTIRE TREE
BARK & TRUNK
The bark is smooth in it's tounger years and has very clear lenticels . With mature trees the bark begins to flake and reveal orange inner patches which further adds to it's beauty.
CANOPY
CROWN
In the autumn time the canopy is striking with a mixture of deep yellow, red and purple colours. This is the main reason this tree gets planted in parks and green spaces. The broad leaves are alternately arranged and are 5 cm in length. The leaves  are simple and ovate to oblong-ovate with a serrated margin and rough on the top and glabrous or nearly glabrous on the underside. The petioles are quite short in length being around  2–5 mm in length.
BRANCHES & TWIGS
LEAVES
The twigs have a unique zig-zag pattern which helps greatly with identification. They are quite slender and the buds are very small and conical in shape. The lower branches are usually easy to get access to as the tree usually has a short main trunk.
FLOWERS
FRUIT
The flowering time for Keaki is in the Spring time. The flowers are very small and easy to miss from a distance. The flowing behaviour is monoecious which means the male and female flowers are on the same tree - but different areas. The colour of the flowers are yellow-green and with the young leaves also being present makes them harder to spot. 
BUDS
GROUND LITTER
The fruit are small, ovate, wingless drupes that ripen in late summer to early autumn.  These are also very small in size - usually 3mm. Once fully mature they are brown in colour.
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QUICK FACTS
  • The Keaki tree is native to  Japan, Korea, eastern China and Taiwan
  • In the UK it is planted as an ornamental tree and is a welcome sight to any green space
  • It was first introduced into the UK in 1861
  • In Osaka, Japan there is a Keaki tree called "Noma Keyaki" which is  1000 years old
  • It is a deciduous tree and capable of growing to heights of up to 30m
  • The growth habit is a single stem / trunk which is typically quite short
  • The canopy has many erect spreading branches and the crown is a broad and rounded
  • The rate of growth changes as it matures, during it's earlier years the growth is quite rapid and it slows down with age
  • The bark is smooth in it's tounger years and has very clear lenticels .
  • With mature trees the bark begins to flake and reveal orange inner patches which further adds to it's beauty
  • In the autumn time the canopy is striking with a mixture of deep yellow, red and purple colours.
  • The broad leaves are alternately arranged and are 5 cm in length
  • The leaves  are simple and ovate to oblong-ovate with a serrated margin
  • The petioles are quite short in length being around  2–5 mm in length
  • The twigs have a unique zig-zag pattern which helps greatly with identification
  • They are quite slender and the buds are very small and conical in shape
  • The lower branches are usually easy to get access to as the tree usually has a short main trunk
  • The flowering time for Keaki is in the Spring time
  • The flowers are very small and easy to miss from a distance
  • The flowing behaviour is monoecious which means the male and female flowers are on the same tree - but different areas
  • The colour of the flowers are yellow-green and with the young leaves also being present makes them harder to spot
  • The fruit are small, ovate, wingless drupes that ripen in late summer to early autumn. 
  • These are also very small in size - usually 3mm. Once fully mature they are brown in colour
  • In Korea, Zelkova serrata has been considered a symbol of protection for villages since ancient times
  • Severe cold temperate can lead to twig dieback
  • It is a member of Elm family and is highly resistant to Dutch elm disease
  • Keaki also shows good resistance to elm leaf beetle and Japanese beetle
  • It is a very suitable park tree due to the Autumn leaf colour and little mess it creates
  •  It is also commonly used for bonsai
  • In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit
  • Keyaki wood is valued in Japan and used often for furniture, such as tansu and taiko drums
  • The tree is a symbol of a number of Japanese cities and prefectures
PLEASE LEAF ME ANY FEEDBACK / COMMENTS
If there is anything out of place or wrong please contact me. Equally if there is anything you wish to add please let me know. The more information we have about Keaki the better. Many thanks!