How do you tell them apart? It isn't easy sometimes.

Younger Zelkova have lovely smooth gray bark, resembling a beech
(but a bit darker). The bark gets rougher and more elm-like as
the tree ages.

Zelkova leaves GENERALLY are a bit larger (1.25 - 2 inches long,
0.75 - 2 inches wide), but elms can have larger leaves (0.75 -
2.5 inches long and 0.33 to 1.33 inches wide).

Elm leaves are dark green, smooth and a bit shiny on top.
Zelkova leaves are dark green slightly rough, and dullish on top.

The base of an elm leaf is described as "unequally rounded" (one
side of the leaf base -- measured from the mid vein -- is wider
than the other). Zelkova leaves are more equally rounded at the
base.

Ulmus leaves usually have fewer vein pairs (10-12), but again not
always. Zelkova have 8-14.

Zelkova leaves turn color in the fall, . Chinese elm usually
don't, and in fact, may remain on the tree all winter.

Zelkova -- almost always -- is a more interesting tree. They
have "chi" while Chinese elms don't. This last, of course, is a
matter of opinion and like all general statements wide open to
the exception.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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