Common Name: oak
Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Fagaceae
Native Range: Japan, Korea
Zone: 7 to 8
Height: 30.00 to 60.00 feet
Spread: 30.00 to 60.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Description: Yellowish
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Shade Tree
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-8 where it is best grown in rich, humusy, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Quercus salicina, commonly called Japanese willowleaf oak, is a medium-sized evergreen oak with a round-spreading, low-branching form. It is native to temperate alpine forested areas of Japan, Korea and Taiwan where it typically matures to 30-60’ tall over time, but usually grows significantly shorter outside its native habitat. This tree features smooth gray-black bark. Leathery, narrow-lanceolate, taper-pointed leaves (to 4” long) have mostly entire margins with a few marginal teeth near the apex. Leaves resemble in shape the leaves found on some willow trees, hence the common name. Leaves are green above but waxy, glaucous or white beneath with stellate appressed hairs. Flowers bloom July-August. Male catkins (to 3 1/2” long) are yellow. Female flowers appear in short, 3-4 flowered pistillate spikes. Acorns (to 1” long) with cups that extend to about 1/2 of the acorn length. Acorns reach maturity in one year.
Genus name comes from the classical Latin name for oak trees.
Specific epithet means willow-like.
Problems
Oaks in general are susceptible to a large number of diseases, including oak wilt, chestnut blight, shoestring root rot, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, cankers, leaf spots and powdery mildew. Potential insect pests include scale, oak skeletonizer, leaf miner, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars and nut weevils.
Uses
Where winter hardy, this evergreen oak may be grown as a screen or small shade tree in the landscape.