Quercus suber

• 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.

• 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

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Stem:

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

• 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