African Oak Acorns

currently unavailable This unique oak tree is found in the mountains of northern Africa. It is one of those trees that was a natural hybrid cross that over geological time became a species on its own by adapting to its unique environment and creating a large yet confined range. African oak is a cross between cork oak and Algerian oak. It's fast growth rate much like the chestnutleaf oak and thick furry leaves make it completely at home in dry locations yet able to grow to 80 feet tall. I think this is one of a few oaks that can tolerate conditions like this and still make fast growth rate. I have tried to grow cork oak as well as Algerian oak several times and unfortunately they cannot survive Michigan. 

Acorns are produced in large amounts on a biennial basis. The acorns are large and similar to chestnutleaf oak but longer. The trees flower early so frost is an issue with this cross in Michigan. Initially when I grew out this selection there was some loss due to winter damage. Those trees were removed along with the evergreen ones. As time went on, minus 25 F did not damage them, although a couple of  35 foot tall trees experienced bark cracking at minus 27 F. That is probably the limit of hardiness for the tree. 

How can this African oak grow in Michigan?   I received a lot of this seed to grow out a couple thousand seedlings from an arboretum that also had turkey, chestnutleaf and sawtooth oak species nearby. It was natural that they would hybridize and I used those hybrids to create my planting. Without the hybrids and having hardier species to essentially genetically back it up, it is likely the African oak would not survive at my farm.  But then again, it could be possible as no one I know has tried it. This African oak represents a new stabilized hybrid cross. It is this hybrid cross that makes it possible to grow even in Michigan. Two populations were generated of which one was more evergreen in nature. That particular group suffered a lot of winter damage as large trees and eventrually were replaced by hardier versions of itself. Today these trees produce a lot of acorns that look very distinct with their large furry caps and elongated acorns. 

African oak is a good species for dry soils and trying to create a forest type tree in a non forest type environments. Its heavy production of acorns along with its fast growth give it potential of another oak species that could be used for its wood, acorns, ornamental and urban street tree.  It is likely this species would be ideal for direct seeding because of its tap rooted nature and large robust acorns.