Behemoth Oak

Selected for fast, strong growth with wide branching  with excellent form. Stucturally superior in that no narrow crotch angles form and branches are widely spaced to allow light to penetrate to the interior of the tree.  Tree develops as a single timber like tree with strong apical dominance but equally broad and upright spreading limbs following the leader. Behemoth has zero acorn production in my planting of hybrid and species oaks. There was one year I found 10 acorns underneath its canopy one year. That was it in the course of a 40 year old tree.

Unlike modern day oak cultivars, Behemoth (and Gigant) are selections based solely on there growth rate and massive size including trunk caliper along with excellent structural characteristics found often in old oak trees. This type of structure resists wind, drought and helps bring the oak back to its glory years of 1000 year old trees free of knots, blight and insects.

Originally from a population of Quercus x McDanielii or macrocarpa x robur in Illinois, I selected a few trees that showed the highest hybrid vigor, large clean leaves and straight branching. It’s no or low acorn production makes it ideal in some types of landscapes where acorn production is not a priority but growth rate is. Wood quality is currently being evaluated.