TreeRM

English oak

Quercus robur 路 Fagaceae 路 also Pedunculate oak, Common oak

The classic broad-crowned oak of lowland Britain and Ireland, growing 20 to 40 m with a wide spreading crown and acorns on long stalks. Supports more wildlife than any other British tree (over 2,300 associated species) and is the backbone of most UK woodland-creation schemes. Far too large for small gardens but the first choice for parks, field corners and new native woodland.

Broadleaf, loses its leaves in winterSlow growingFull sunModerate water
English oak
Wikimedia Commons, file Quercus_robur.jpg (see file page for author and licence)

Where it stands

Native

This tree evolved here, and local wildlife depends on it.

  • 馃嚛馃嚜 Germanysource
  • 馃嚝馃嚪 Francesource
  • 馃嚞馃嚙 ENG, United Kingdomsource
  • 馃嚞馃嚙 NIR, United Kingdomsource
  • 馃嚞馃嚙 SCT, United Kingdom 路 Native but less common than sessile oak in the north and westsource
  • 馃嚞馃嚙 WLS, United Kingdomsource
  • 馃嚠馃嚜 Irelandsource
  • 馃嚨馃嚤 Polandsource

Adapted

Introduced, but it handles this climate and has not shown a habit of spreading.

  • 馃嚦馃嚳 New Zealand 路 Introduced and naturalised on both main islands per WCVPsource
  • 馃嚳馃嚘 South Africa 路 Introduced (Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal); not on the NEMBA 2020 listsource

Recommended

A city, utility or extension service lists it among the trees it approves for planting here.

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Sacramento, CA, United States 路 On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees listsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Denver, CO, United States 路 On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree Listsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 New York, NY, United States 路 On the NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Approved Species Listsource

Care

Plant bare-root whips in winter and protect from deer and voles; water in dry spells for the first two summers. Prune only to remove dead or crossing wood, in late winter. Watch for acute oak decline (bark bleeds), chronic oak decline and oak processionary moth (south-east England; its hairs cause rashes and breathing problems, report sightings rather than touch nests).

Benefits

ShadeWildlifeBirdsPollinatorsLong livedStores carbon wellStorm resistant

Good for

parksYard shadeTimberReforestationHedgerow

Watch out for

Large rootsHeavy litterPest prone