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QUERCUS
Commonly known as 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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DeciduousNarrowly oblong to obovate, entire to 3-lobed, glossy dark green leaves
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Height15m (49ft)
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Spread15m (49ft)
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TreeTree with fissured, grey-black bark. Produces spherical-ovoid acorns. Leaves last well into winter
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Hardy - very cold winterHardy in all of UK and northern Europe. Plant can possibly withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F)
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Full sun
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Partial shade
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Additional FeaturesGood to knowRequires lime-free soilPests & DiseasesAphids, gall wasps, oak wilt, honey fungus, powdery mildew, bracket fungiPlace of originSoutheastern USA
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HardinessFully hardy
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Leaf marginLobed
(see photos above) -
Leaf shapeOblong
(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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Seasonal InterestSpring
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Soil ConditionsAcid / ericaceous lovingFertile moist well-drained soil
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Toxic - Category CHarmful if eatenPets, i.e. cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents, notably dogs
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Tree ShapeRounded to broadly spreading
15m (49ft)
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15m (49ft) |
Buy Varieties of QUERCUS
QUERCUS 'Belle d'Aquitaine'
red new shoots. Deep orange to red autumn colour
QUERCUS buckleyi
leaf margined heavily divided. Brilliant red or yellow autumn colour
QUERCUS cerris
QUERCUS coccinea
excellent autumn colour
QUERCUS ilex
evergreen oak, excellent for windy or coastal conditions
QUERCUS macrocarpa
yellow autumn colour, large acorns
QUERCUS myrsinifolia
small and compact tree with dark green leaves which are paler beneath. Used as a windbreak at Caerhays
QUERCUS palustris
Deeply lobed leaves. Good autumn colour.
QUERCUS petraea
(syn. Q. sessiliflora). Lobed dark green leaves.
QUERCUS phillyreoides
rare evergreen oak with oval leathery glossy green leaves and bronze-tinted new growth
QUERCUS pontica
shrubby or round-headed tree. Stout, reddish shoots
QUERCUS robur
QUERCUS robur 'Concordia'
young leaves suffused golden yellow in spring and early summer
QUERCUS rubra
excellent autumn colour
QUERCUS rhysophylla 'Maya'
a hardy Mexican oak with attractive downy reddish new growth maturing to a bullate glossy green