Description

See also White Oak description and illustrations.

Leaves: Alternate; simple; like white oak's but smaller, 2-1/2" to 5" long; deciduous; ear-lobe-like leaf base; short petiole.

Twigs/buds: Twigs pale gray, greenish-brown, reddish-brown or purplish, hairless, somewhat powdery; angled; similar to twigs of white oak (Q. alba).  Buds grayish-brown to reddish-brown; plump, rounded or blunt, 1/4" to 3/8" in length, angled; scales overlapping and fringed with hairs.

Flowers/fruit: Monoecious.  Fruit an acorn; 1" to 3" long stalk; nut 1" to 2" long; cap covering 1/3 of acorn.

Bark: Grayish-black with deep furrows.

Wood: Has been used to make furniture, for ship-building, and for church/castle interiors in Europe; little information available.

General: Native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia.  Prefers well-drained soil.  Shade intolerant.  Acorns can be a nuisance.

Landscape Use: Commonly planted in European landscapes and does well in Utah.  Leaf is very interesting and narrow or wide canopy forms are available.  Zones 4-8.

Cultivars:  'Asjes', 'Atropurpurea', 'Attention', 'Concordia', 'Crimson Spire', 'Clemons', 'Cristata', 'Fastigiata', 'Filicifolia', 'Long', 'Pendula', 'Pyramich', 'Salicifolia', Skyrocket™, Westminster Globe™.

Characteristics