Pedunculate oak

The best-known representative of the genus, widely distributed in the European part of Russia and Western Europe. Present in many nature reserves of the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, the Baltic states, and Crimea. Forms oak forests and is part of mixed coniferous-broadleaved forests of various types on different but fertile soils. A light-loving mesophyte.

Appearance: a long-lived, very robust tree up to 50 m tall and up to 25 m wide; in dense stands with a slender trunk, highly free of branches, while in solitary plantings in open places — with a short trunk and a wide, spreading, low-set crown; bark on trunks up to 40 years smooth, olive-brown, later grayish-brown, almost black. Grows slowly, with the greatest growth vigor at 5–20 years.

Fruits: acorns up to 3.5 cm, covered by the cupule for one-fifth, ripen in early autumn.

Leaves: alternate, clustered at the tips of shoots, leathery, oblong, obovate, up to 15 cm long, with an elongated apex and 3–7 pairs of blunt lateral lobes of unequal length; lobes entire or with 1–3 teeth; often auriculate at the base of the blade; leaves shiny and glabrous above, dark green, lighter beneath, sometimes with sparse hairs.

Root system: deep, powerful.

Requirements: sun/partial shade, tolerates high temperatures, winter-hardy, wind-resistant, suitable for urban conditions.

Soils: prefers deep, fertile, fresh soils, but can develop on any soils, including dry and saline ones.

Zone: 5a