Quercus - Oak Trees

Quercus palustris Green Pillar

Pin Oak Tree

Common Name: Pin OakLatin Name: Quercus palustris 'Green Pillar'Soil: Well drained, moist or dry. Acidic or neutral.Position: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April, green, insignificant.Hardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 20 years: 15m/4mSpecial features: Columnal form, deep green leaves, vibrant red autumn colour.Quercus palustris 'Green Pillar' has a tall columnar or fastigiate shape brought about by vertical growth of its branches. This is a great architectural asset in certain garden design situations, particularly as a screen or visual barrier, or as a single specimen plant.This variety thrives in full sun and dry soil, and so makes an ideal shade tree. It can be particularly useful as a street tree providing a visually attractive avenue, as well as shade for pedestrians. The tree is tall and very slim in its youth and spreads a little more in later years, with a slightly different visual effect.The leaves of this species are dark green in summer, and bright, vibrant red in autumn. This ensures lasting appeal though the seasons. The tree is deciduous, and so drops its leaves in winter. The liberated winter structure allows bright light through the canopy, which is a huge advantage for pedestrians or garden users. This tree has a tendency to retain just a few leaves in winter, creating a specific visual effect, which is particularly valued by some. This should be considered when making a choice of variety.Quercus palustris 'Green Pillar' is moderately fast growing, reaching about 15m tall and 4 metres wide, and prefers acid or neutral soils. Chlorosis occurs in the leaves in alkaline soil due to iron deficiency. This species is fully hardy in the UK.

Quercus Regal Prince

Regal Prince Oak

Common Name: Regal Prince Oak TreeLatin Name: Quercus robur x bicolour ‘Regal Prince’ Soil: Any deep, well-drained, lime-free soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: Spring/Green-yellow catkins Hardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 9m/3.5mSpecial features: A tall and slender Oak with beautiful green foliage that turns orange in autumn  A splendid hybrid of the upright English Oak (Quercus robur fastigiata) and the ‘American Swamp White Oak’ (Quercus bicolour), the Regal Prince is a more compact variety which has a highly attractive columnar habit.  The leaves are deep green in colour and have the classic lobed oak shape; they turn orange in autumn before falling. This tree is really effective when planted in rows for screening, and you should plant the trees about 2.5m apart so that they can still get proper air-circulation between the branches.

Quercus rubra Aurea

Golden Red Oak

Common Name: Golden Red Oak Latin Name: Quercus rubra 'Aurea' Soil: Medium moisture, well-drained, fertile soil. Slightly better autumn colour on acidic soil.  Position: Light, dappled shade to prevent sun scorch  Flowering period/colour: Spring, inconspicuous.  Hardiness: Hardy to -22°C, but requires shelter from strong winds. Height and spread in 20-50 years: 15m/10m Special features: Golden yellow leaves in spring and early summer; orange red autumn colour. Deciduous. The Golden red oak is a rare variation on the Eastern North American red oak. A fine specimen of this tree can be seen in the Belfast Botanic Gardens. In the spring the leaves are a dazzling golden yellow colour, maturing to a yellow green in late summer. The leaves develop orange and red tints in autumn. This is a fast growing tree and in ideal conditions can grow to five or six metres in ten years. It is also very long lived, lasting up to 500 years, with a trunk which may be 2 metres in diameter. Stout branches grow at right angles to the stem, forming a narrow round-topped head. The tree produces acorns, which take about eighteen months to two years to develop. This variety is frequently grown as a specimen tree in parks and open spaces. It rapidly develops a taproot, so should bought as a young specimen and planted in its final location as soon as possible. Quercus rubra 'Aurea' produces very good quality wood for building applications. Other oak species are also cut for this purpose but produce lower quality wood than the red oaks. Red oak wood is suitable for flooring, veneer, and furniture.

Quercus Green Spire

Chestnut Leaved Oak Tree

Common Name: Chestnut Leaved Oak Tree Latin Name: Quercus castanifolia 'Green Spire' Soil: Any deep, well-drained, fertile soil Position: Full sun or partial shade Flowering period/colour: May/ golden catkins Hardiness: Fully hardy Eventual height/spread: 18m/ 6m Special features: A broad, columnar habit and prickly acorns on mature trees. This is a vigorous oak tree that grows to have a broad, yet columnar, habit. The glossy green leaves are like that of a chestnut leaf, hence the common name, and the leaves have silvery undersides and are covered in tiny hairs. Come autumn, the leaves turn to a bronzed yellow. This is the perfect tree for a large garden or an open space and its columnar habit will add structure to the landscape.