Site icon Laidback Gardener

2016 Urban Tree of the Year

  • Larry Hodgson
    • 20161022aenglish
    Its narrow upright habit makes ‘Musashino’ zelkova a good choice for urban streets. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

    Zelkova serrata ‘Musashino’ has been voted the 2016 Urban Tree of the Year by the Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA).

    To win the award, the selected tree must be adaptable to harsh urban growing conditions and have strong ornamental traits. That is certainly the case with the ‘Musashino’ zelkova.

    It’s an extra-hardy, upright-growing, highly symmetrical selection of the Japanese zelkova (Z. serrata). It was first selected in Japan and named after the town Musashino where it was found. It can reach up to 45 feet (14 m) in height and 15 feet (4.6 m) in width at maturity with medium green leaves in the summer while fall colors range from yellow bronze to red, depending on the growing conditions. It has proved to be hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 9 (AgCan zones 6 to 9).

    Fall color is variable, but attractive. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

    This is one tough tree and it adapts well to urban conditions, tolerating air pollution and salt spray. Although it prefers moist, well-drained soil, it is drought resistant once established, pH adaptable, and more heat tolerant than most zelkovas. The smaller than usual leaves (only 3 inches/7.5 cm de length) reduce the need for raking in the fall.

    Musashino zelkova was introduced by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. and is available through nurseries that habitually carry Schmidt trees.

    Past Winners

    Here is a list of past winners of the Urban Tree of the Year award:

    Exit mobile version