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QUERCUS
Commonly known as Black oak, Quercitron oak
Genus of about 530 species of deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen trees and shrubs in the beech family widely distributed in woodland and scrub in the northern hemisphere extending to tropical latitudes.
Some deciduous species give excellent autumn colour.
Because of land use changes and climate change many species are under acute threat. In the highlands of Mexico, Central America and the northern Andes forests have been cleared to make coffee plantations and cattle ranching. Pine forests are invading oak in the Indian Himalayas because of temperature rise.
In the UK, Phytopthora ramorum (so-called sudden oak death), a bacterium thought to cause acute oak decline and the oak processionary moth, which causes defoliation, are modern threats.
Represented in the UK by 2 natives, Sessile or Durmast (Q. petraea), stalked leaves and unstalked acorns and English or Pedunculate (Q. robur) with very short stalks on leaves and long stalks on acorns.
Two other oaks commonly seen are the holm oak (Q. ilex), evergreen, and the Turkey oak (Q. cerris) which was introduced, mistakenly, as a source of good timber.
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DeciduousLeaves to 25cm (10in) long, each with up to 7 pointed, deep lobes. Leaves turn red-brown in autumn.
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Height30m (98ft)
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Spread25m (82ft)
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TreeFast- growing, spreading tree with ridged, dark-brown, almost black, bark. Produces almost spherical acorns.
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Hardy - cold winterHardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters. May not withstand open/exposed sites or central/northern locations. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -15°C (5°F)
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Full sun
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Partial shade
- Details
- Mature Size
- Tips and Advice
- Goes Well With
- Planting Combinations
- Other Suggestions
- See Also...
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Additional FeaturesPests & DiseasesAphids, gall wasps, oak wilt, honey fungus, powdery mildew, bracket fungi.Place of originEastern North America.
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HardinessFully hardy
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Leaf marginLobed
(see photos above) -
Leaf shapeElliptic
(see photos above) Obovate(see photos above) -
Pruning groupPruning group 1Suitable for: Deciduous and evergreen trees, and some deciduous shrubs.
Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Prune wayward or crossing branches to maintain a healthy framework.
When: When dormant in the late winter/early spring. Some in the summer/autumn to prevent bleeding of sap.
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Soil ConditionsFertile well drained soilNeutral to acid soil
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Toxic - Category CHarmful if eaten(Can be harmful to pets if eaten)
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Tree ShapeRounded to broadly spreading
- Introduction
- Hardy evergreen oaks
- More tender evergreen oaks
- Oak species with exceptional leaf colours in spring or autumn
- Uplifting Quercus - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Maintaining variegation - Video Tip ondemand_video
- When is the right time to collect seeds?
- When are seeds actually ripe and ready for collection?
- Magnolia seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Cornus capitata seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Lithocarpus Seed Collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Camellia seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Rhododendron seed collecting - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Storing seeds over winter
- Embothrium Collecting and Storing Seeds
- Decaisnea Seed Collection & Potting
- How to plant a tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- How to plant a tree
- Ties - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Restaking fallen young trees - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Fallen old tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Clearing up fallen beech tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Spring pruning - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing side shoots - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Pruning and Shaping Magnolia - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Deer protection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Weed Spraying - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing Ivy - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing wire protection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Tree Survey - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Crown uplift - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing shoots below graft - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing peeling bark - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Maintaining variegation - Video Tip ondemand_video
30m (98ft)
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25m (82ft) |
Buy Varieties of QUERCUS
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS acutissima](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_acutissima_3530d.jpg)
QUERCUS acutissima
chestnut-like leaves which persist into winter
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS 'Belle d'Aquitaine'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_belle_d_aquitaine.jpg)
QUERCUS 'Belle d'Aquitaine'
red new shoots. Deep orange to red autumn colour
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS buckleyi](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_buchleyi_6445.jpg)
QUERCUS buckleyi
leaf margined heavily divided. Brilliant red or yellow autumn colour
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS cerris](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_cerris_3532a.jpg)
QUERCUS cerris
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS coccinea](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/Quercus_coccinea.jpg)
QUERCUS coccinea
excellent autumn colour
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS ilex](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/Quercus_ilex.jpg)
QUERCUS ilex
evergreen oak, excellent for windy or coastal conditions
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS laurifolia](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_laurifolia_7108.jpg)
QUERCUS laurifolia
rounded tree with long-lasting foliage, bronze when young
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS macrocarpa](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_macrocarpa_7952_w.jpg)
QUERCUS macrocarpa
yellow autumn colour, large acorns
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS myrsinifolia](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_myrsinifolia_4993.jpg)
QUERCUS myrsinifolia
small and compact tree with dark green leaves which are paler beneath. Used as a windbreak at Caerhays
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS palustris](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_palustris.jpg)
QUERCUS palustris
Deeply lobed leaves. Good autumn colour.
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS petraea](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_petraea_7195_w.jpg)
QUERCUS petraea
(syn. Q. sessiliflora). Lobed dark green leaves.
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS phillyreoides](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_phillyreoides_3539.jpg)
QUERCUS phillyreoides
rare evergreen oak with oval leathery glossy green leaves and bronze-tinted new growth
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS pontica](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_pontica.jpg)
QUERCUS pontica
shrubby or round-headed tree. Stout, reddish shoots
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS robur](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/Quercus_robur.jpg)
QUERCUS robur
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. QUERCUS robur 'Concordia'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/quercus_robur_concordia_4564.jpg)
QUERCUS robur 'Concordia'
young leaves suffused golden yellow in spring and early summer
Useful extras...
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/Vitax_Q4_6202.jpg)
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/grow_your_own_front_22.jpg)
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/tomatoe_front.jpg)
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/rootgrow_6203.jpg)
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/RootgrowEricoid_6204.jpg)
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/empathy-allpurpose_6208.jpg)