Quercus suber (Cork Oak)

Quercus suber (Cork Oak) is a medium-sized evergreen tree with a tight rounded crown. The leathery, toothed, oval leaves, 4 in. long (10 cm), are shiny dark green on top, covered with gray hairs beneath. The trunk and main branches are covered with handsome, thick, deeply fissured, corky bark with reddish-brown furrows. The bark is commercially harvested to produce a variety of products, including wine bottle corks. During cork harvest, the tree remains standing while large sections of its outer bark are cut and peeled from the tree. This is one of the few trees able to regenerate its bark. Inconspicuous yellow-green flowers appear in spring in male catkins and in short-stalked female clusters. The female flowers give way to small egg-shaped acorns, which are a valuable source of food for small mammals and birds. A magnificent and picturesque shade tree or street tree. A great oak species for Western gardens.

• Grows up to 40-70 ft. tall and wide (12-21 m).
• A full sun lover, this tree is easily grown in acidic, dry to medium, well-drained soils. Tolerates some part shade. Avoid wet, poorly-drained soils. Drought tolerant once established.
• Oaks, in general, are susceptible to oak wilt, chestnut blight, shoestring root rot, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, canker, leaf spot, powdery mildew, scale, oak skeletonizer, leaf miner, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars and nut weevil.
• Toxic to horses.
• Native to Northern Africa and Southern Europe.