Japanese Blue Oak Lithocarpus glaber

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Lithocarpus

  Species:

  glaber

  Family:

  Fagaceae

  Life Cycle:

  Woody

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Seed

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Eastern and southern Asia

  Wildlife Value:

  Mildly resistant to damage by deer. Wildlife eats the acorns.

  Edibility:

  Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out

  Dimensions:

  Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Poisonous

  Tree

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Broadleaf Evergreen

  Habit/Form:

  Erect

  Multi-stemmed

  Oval

  Rounded

  Growth Rate:

  Slow

  Maintenance:

  Medium

  Texture:

  Medium

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

  Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

  Soil Texture:

  Clay

  Loam (Silt)

  Sand

  Soil pH:

  Acid (<6.0)

  Neutral (6.0-8.0)

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Occasionally Wet

  Available Space To Plant:

  12-24 feet

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Fruit Type:

  Nut

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  Acorns are up to 3/4 inch long. The cup has 5-6 concentric rings and covers approximately 1/3 of the nut. They grow singly or in clusters of 2 or 3.

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Gold/Yellow

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Catkin

  Insignificant

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Description:

  Separate male and female catkins in spring.

• Leaves:

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Broadleaf Evergreen

  Leaf Color:

  Gray/Silver

  Green

  Purple/Lavender

  Red/Burgundy

  Leaf Feel:

  Glossy

  Leathery

  Leaf Value To Gardener:

  Long-lasting

  Showy

  Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:

  Gold/Yellow

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Opposite

  Leaf Shape:

  Elliptical

  Oblong

  Leaf Margin:

  Entire

  Serrate

  Hairs Present:

  Yes

  Leaf Length:

  3-6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Description:

  4-8 inch long by 2-4 inches wide elliptical to oblong leaves appear bronzy to purplish in the spring. Becomes glossy dark green in summer. Undersides are gray-green to blue-green with hairs. Margins are entire with teeth near the apex. Bases are rounded. Non-showy fall color is yellowish-green.

• Bark:

  Bark Color:

  Black

  Dark Brown

  Surface/Attachment:

  Ridges

  Bark Description:

  The bark is blackish-brown and smooth at first. It becomes furrowed and rough with age.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Green

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Bud Terminal:

  Cluster of terminal buds

  Stem Bud Scales:

  Enclosed in more than 2 scales

  Stem Lenticels:

  Conspicuous

  Stem Surface:

  Smooth (glabrous)

  Stem Description:

  Stems are dark olive green, stiff, thick with pale lenticels. Buds are brown with scales.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Lawn

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Asian Garden

  Design Feature:

  Screen/Privacy

  Shade Tree

  Specimen

  Street Tree

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Deer

• Poisonous to Humans:

  Poison Severity:

  Low

  Poison Symptoms:

  Stomach pain, constipation and later bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination if young leaves or raw acorns eaten.

  Poison Toxic Principle:

  Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.

  Causes Contact Dermatitis:

  No

  Poison Part:

  Fruits

  Leaves