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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Quercus bicolor Habit
Quercus falcata Tree form (Greensboro, NC)-Mid Fall
Quercus nigra Quercus nigra
Quercus frainetto has some common insect problems:
Common Insect Pests of Oak in North Carolina
Oak Pest Management Calendar
Quercus frainetto has some common disease problems:
Common Disease Pests of Oak in North Carolina

Hungarian Oak Quercus frainetto

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
KWER-kus frain-ET-oh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Italian Oak is native to Europe and can reach 100 ft tall in its native habitat. It is erect with a high, oval canopy and has large, attractive, deeply lobed leaves. It grows in heavy acidic soils and is native to the mountainous regions of the Balkans. It will tolerate most soils as long as they are well-drained and acidic.

This tree is cultivated in parks and large gardens in Europe. it can be difficult to find for sale in the USA.

It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)Edward's hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii)Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus)White-m hairstreak (Parrhasius malbum)Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), and Juvenalis duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis).

Susceptible to Beetle Borers, Caterpillars, Insect Galls and Scales, Armillaria, Crown Rot, Mistletoe and Root Rot.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Hungarian Crown'
  • Quercus 'Schmidt'
    Shorter tree
'Hungarian Crown', Quercus 'Schmidt'
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#moth caterpillar host#fall interest#street tree#small mammals#deer resistant#acorns#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for horses#banded hairstreak butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#imperial moth#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly#edward’s hairstreak butterfly#white-m hairstreak butterfly#horace’s duskywing butterfly#butterfly caterpillar host#wildlife friendly#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Hungarian Crown'
  • Quercus 'Schmidt'
    Shorter tree
'Hungarian Crown', Quercus 'Schmidt'
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#moth caterpillar host#fall interest#street tree#small mammals#deer resistant#acorns#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for horses#banded hairstreak butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#imperial moth#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly#edward’s hairstreak butterfly#white-m hairstreak butterfly#horace’s duskywing butterfly#butterfly caterpillar host#wildlife friendly#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Quercus
    Species:
    frainetto
    Family:
    Fagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    SE Europe and Turkey
    Wildlife Value:
    Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Mildly resistant to deer. Attracts birds and mammals for the acorns.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Nesting
    Edibility:
    Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out
    Dimensions:
    Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Oval
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    1.25 inch long light brown acorns are borne in groups of 2-5. The rough, scaly, hairy cups enclose 1/3 or more of the nut.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Separate male and female flowers on the same tree. Pollen flowers in drooping, elongated clusters
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Sinuate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    6-10 inch long leaves have 7-10 deep parallel lobes. The color is dark green above and pale yellow-green underneath with minute russet hairs. Fall color is an attractive russet.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Ridges
    Bark Plate Shape:
    Square
    Bark Description:
    The bark is first gray and smooth, later brown and fissured.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Bud Terminal:
    Cluster of terminal buds
    Stem Lenticels:
    Conspicuous
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The twigs are stout and covered with russet upward pointed hairs.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Shade Tree
    Street Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Problems:
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits
    Leaves