Quercus suber
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus SOO-ber
- Description
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Cork Oak is a large broadleaf evergreen shade tree native to western Africa and southwestern Europe. It is low maintenance and drought tolerant. The spongy bark of mature trees is used to make corks, cork flooring and other items. The cork is harvested when the tree reaches 25-30 years of age and then every 9-11 years for up to 12 times within its lifetime.
In the US it can be grown in the warmer winter areas and makes an attractive shade tree. Plant in full sun to light shade in dry to medium well-drained soils.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- suber
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Bark is used to make corks and is harvested from at least 30 year old trees every 9-11 years.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- In its native habitat, the cork oak supports a wide range of wildlife including many endangered species of birds and felines and the acorns are a high-value food source for mammals. 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.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Acorns are edible once the tannins have been boiled or leached out.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Narrow oval acorns 1 1/4" long with shaggy cups.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- 2"-3" long male catkins and 1 1/4" long female stalks.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leathery wavy toothed simple oval leaves are dark green above and gray and hairy below. Leaf margins often downcurved.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Furrowed
- Spongy
- Bark Description:
- Rough deeply fissured reddish brown and can get up to 12" thick.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
