About

The green and yellow flowers are inconspicuous catkins, followed by brown acorns with darker brown stripes, up to 2cm long in scaly cups. A large, vigorous tree with brilliant red autumn colour. The leaves are a shiny, lime green, deeply lobed with each lobe narrowing to a fine point. They turn pinky-brown as they die and remain on the tree throughout the winter.

About the genus

Quercus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with entire, lobed or toothed leaves; flowers inconspicuous, followed by characteristic acorns; sometimes good autumn colour

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeTrees
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full heightMore than 50 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
ToxicityPets (dogs): Harmful if eaten - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants

Care notes

CultivationGrow in deep, fertile, well-drained soil. A fast-growing, spreading, deciduous tree
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by grafting in mid-autumn or early winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to oak processionary moth, aphids, caterpillars, leaf-mining moths and oak gall wasps
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews and honey fungus