Oriental White Oak
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

40-80' tall and wide. Develops a spreading crown. Slow growing. A long-lived tree.

Native Range

Native to East Asia: Japan, Korea and central China. Introduced into Europe in 1908, but is still rare in cultivation outside its native area.

Flower and Fruit Details

Monoecious, April-May flowers, yellowish-green, pollinated by wind, but not ornamental. Male flowers in pendulous catkins. Fruit is a nut (acorn), one inch in length, ripening in September-October. The acorn cap covers about 1/3 of the acorn.

Leaf and Bark Features

Deciduous: Leaves are 4-8" long, elliptic-obovate to obovate, coarsely toothed, ribbed, glossy dark green on top, but grayish-white beneath. Leaves somewhat resemble swamp white oak and chinkapin oak. Good yellow fall color. Bark is furrowed and gray.

Culture and Care

Prefers full sun; tolerates part shade. Prefers rich, moist, well-drained loams or sandy soils. Tolerates clay and alkaline, high pH soils. Good for windy areas. Does not move well, so plant in a permanent location. Zones 5-8. Tolerates close proximity to black walnut (juglone). Avoid waterlogged sites. No serious insect or disease problems. Various oak galls are common on most oaks, but most are harmless, unless woody galls surround the stems.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Good wildlife value. 3-season interest: Spring, summer, and fall. Very rare. The specific epithet, "aliena" means foreign. The wood is used in East Asia for boat building and wood flooring. Crushed seeds have been used as a soup thickener and for mixing into cereals and breads.

Suggested Uses

Makes a good shade tree or street tree. Also good in a woodland garden. Good for windy areas.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA