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QUERCUS
Commonly known as Red 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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Deciduousmatt leaves to 20cm (8in) long, cut into bristle-tipped lobes
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Height15m (49ft)
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Spread10m (33ft)
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TreeFast-growing, broad-crowned tree with smooth greyish brown or dark grey bark
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Full sun
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Partial shade
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Additional FeaturesGood to knowLeaves are prone to burning in strong sunshinePests & DiseasesAphids, gall wasps, oak wilt, honey fungus, powdery mildew, bracket fungiPlace of originEastern North America
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Leaf Colour (if not green)Gold/yellowTurning green
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Leaf marginLobed
(see photos above) -
Leaf shapeObovate
(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 ConditionsAcid / ericaceous lovingNeutral to acid soil
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Toxic - Category CHarmful if eaten(Can be harmful to pets if eaten)
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)
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