Chestnut-leaved Oak
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Grows to 85' tall and wide, with a rounded crown. Under ideal conditions, has grown over 150' tall. Strongly horizontal branches grow from surprisingly low on the trunk. A vigorous grower, with a fast rate of growth, especially in its youth. Lives 500-1,000 years.

Native Range

Native to the Caucasus and Alborz Mountains of northern Iran, especially on south-facing slopes and on fertile, sandy soil. Introduced into England as seed in 1843, and started in Kew Gardens in 1846.

Flower and Fruit Details

The monoecious flowers include wind-pollinated catkins. Fruits mature 18 months after female flowers are pollinated. Acorns are oval in shape, 3/4-1" long, nearly sessile, w/ a very short stalk. Acorn is 1/3-1/2 enclosed by the cup/cap. Fruits are bicolored, w/ an orange basal half going to a green-brown tip.

Leaf and Bark Features

Deciduous: Leaves are alternate, simple, elliptic-oblong to lanceolate, 3-6" long, margin coarsely toothed, with 6-14 vein pairs terminating in spear-like teeth. Leaves are dark green and glossy above, but gray tomentose or glabrous beneath. Leaves turn deep bronze, then brown, before falling in the autumn. Younger bark is black and smooth, becoming dark gray and ridged, starting to split or fissure as the trunk girth increases.

Culture and Care

Needs full sun. Hardy to Zone 7 (6?). Oak caterpillars and galls are possible pests.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Extremely wind-tolerant, surviving hurricane force winds. 3-season interest: Spring, summer and fall. In the black/red oak group. Related to Turkey Oak, which its leaves resemble. The specific epithet, "castaneifolia", means "foliage like Castanea (Chestnut)". Bluejays and pigeons eat the acorns. This tree is still rather rare in plant collections.

Suggested Uses

Used as a large shade tree in parks, arboreta, botanical gardens, and large estates.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA