Are you looking for a majestic shade tree for your landscape? Look no further! There is an oak tree for just about any environment, as long as you have the space for a large and beautiful tree. In this article, gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen will introduce the mighty oak and offer an overview of how to grow these fabulous trees.
Oak trees belong to the genus Quercus and are members of the Beech (Fagaceae) family. There are more than 500 species of oak trees globally. Approximately 90 of these species are native to North America.
Oak trees come in a variety of sizes. Some can grow up to 80 feet tall and equally as wide, while the smallest species may grow no more than 10 feet tall. Most are deciduous in temperate climates, but some species in warmer climates are evergreen.
Regardless of their appearance and where they grow, these trees are an important part of the natural ecosystem. They provide abundant shade, excellent habitat for wildlife, and are useful trees for lumber.
Oaks are easy to grow and make excellent landscaping trees. And if you ever thought that an oak tree was “just a tree,” it’s time to reconsider. They are critical keystone species, and with so many species to choose from, you are sure to find one that’s ideal for your specific site and can grow well in your climate and soil type.
If you are planting an oak in your yard, you aren’t just planting a tree. You are growing something beautiful and useful to you and to the wildlife inhabiting your neighborhood. Now, let’s dig into the basics of how to plant, grow, and care for these trees.
Oak trees inhabit many different forest ecosystems. They are an important component of many hardwood forests and mixed hardwood forests.
Some oaks thrive in warm climates, while others live in cooler northern and mountaintop climates. Oaks have also been well used in urban settings, such as parks, along roadways, and as landscaping trees. These long-lived trees are known to live for over 1,000 years!
Oaks have long been incorporated into home and industrial purposes. They are commonly used for lumber, furniture, flooring, and many other useful and decorative items. Native Americans used the acorns as a food source, and some people today prepare and eat acorns. Take note that the acorns have a high tannin content, so they must be properly soaked before they can be eaten.
Oak trees have been classified into two major categories – red oaks and white oaks. It’s easy to tell the difference between the two classes. The red oaks have leaves with pointed ends and pointed lobes. Common examples of red types include pin oaks, black oaks, and scarlet oaks. The white oaks have rounded edges and rounded lobes. Common examples of white types include white oaks, bur oaks, and post oaks.
Oak trees are extremely diverse and come in many shapes and sizes. Some are short and shrubby, while others grow to be extremely large and majestic. And, of course, there is every size in between.
Oak trees have single, simple, alternate leaves. There is a wide variety of leaf shapes, from simple, thin ovals to deeply lobed or toothed varieties. In the fall, many oaks display beautiful fall foliage in shades of yellow and orange or red and bronze, while others simply turn from green to brown without any notable color.
Most oak trees are deciduous, but some are evergreen. Many species keep their leaves well into the fall, even after other deciduous trees have lost their leaves. A few are broadleaf evergreens in more southern climates and retain their green leaves through the winter. Oak tree bark is typically brownish-gray and furrowed.
Oak trees bloom in the spring and have separate male and female flowers. The male flowers develop as elongated catkins, while the female flowers are tiny and quite inconspicuous, developing at the tips of budding twigs. Both male and female flowers appear at the same time and are wind-pollinated. Fertilized female flowers give way to the distinctive capped acorn, which contains the seed.
Growing an oak tree from seed is easy and reliable. Acorns can be gathered from any mature tree and are free and convenient.