SPECIES
English oak
Quercus robur L.
An oak is more than a tree: its leaves, bark, branches and acorns help make a home for woodland life.
English oak, also called pedunculate oak, grows into a broad-crowned deciduous tree. Its rounded, lobed leaves sit on very short stalks, while the acorns hang on much longer ones.
Each spring, catkins release pollen. By autumn, green acorns have ripened brown and become food for jays, squirrels and other animals.
A mature oak offers far more than shade: insects use its leaves and bark, birds nest in its cavities, and fungi and invertebrates live among its fallen leaves.
How tall does an english oak grow?
up to 40 m
When does an english oak flower?
April–May (UK) (Typical period described for Britain, not a universal flowering schedule)
Where does an english oak grow?
temperate woods
How long does an english oak live?
can exceed 1,000 years (Exceptional old oaks, not the typical lifespan of an individual tree)
Worth knowing
- 40 m A height English oak can reach; this is an upper figure, not a typical height.
- Acorns A food source for jays, squirrels and other woodland animals.
- Long stalks The acorns have long stalks, unlike the almost stalkless leaves.
From catkin to acorn
Oak bears male and female flowers on the same tree. Male catkins appear in April to May in Britain and release pollen into the wind.
Following pollination, acorns form, turn from green to brown and fall in autumn.
Life in every layer
Caterpillars and other insects feed on oak leaves; birds and mammals eat its acorns. Mosses, lichens and fungi can occupy its bark, branches and the ground beneath.
When a jay buries acorns and leaves some behind, those seeds have a chance to grow into new trees.
A tree of temperate lands
Kew records the native range of Quercus robur from Europe eastwards to Iran, including Norway and Great Britain.
This oak grows in deciduous woodland, and is especially familiar in woods, parks and hedgerows in Britain.
Old trees need protection
Acute and chronic oak decline are serious problems affecting oaks in Britain. Local impacts must not be presented as a uniform global trend.
The oak processionary moth damages foliage in areas of England where it has established; this is a documented regional issue, not a global status statement.
Sources
- Woodland Trust — English oak
- Woodland Trust — Oak trees and wildlife
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Oak tree
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online
Records of where it has been seen come live from GBIF; observed interactions from GloBI. Draft — not yet reviewed by a person.