Common Name: Hungarian oak
Type: Tree
Family: Fagaceae
Zone: 6 to 8
Height: 50.00 to 80.00 feet
Spread: 35.00 to 60.00 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Description: Yellowish-green
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Shade Tree, Street Tree
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Good Fall
Fruit: Showy
Tolerate: Drought, Clay Soil
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 5-8 where it is best grown in rich, moist, well-drained loams in full sun. Grows well in sandy loams. Tolerates arid environment once established.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Quercus frainetto, commonly called Hungarian oak or Italian oak, is a large deciduous oak with a broad-rounded crown that typically grows 50-80’ tall in cultivation, but will sometimes soar to as much as 125’ in its native range. It is native from Italy to Hungary, the Balkans and the Black Sea. It is particularly noted for its attractive symmetrical shape and large ovate to obovate lobed leaves (to 6-10” long) which are crowded near the twig tips. Each leaf has about 7-10 lobes per side, with deep sinuses plunging close to the mid-vein. Leaves are dark green above and pale gray-green beneath. Russet fall leaf color is often attractive. Insignificant monoecious flowers (females in clusters and males in dangling catkins) bloom in April-May. Female flowers are followed by small acorns (each to 1 1/4” long) which typically appear in groups of 2-5. Each acorn is enclosed within a scaly, rough-textured cup which covers about 1/3 to 1/2 of the acorn. Acorns ripen in September-October.
Genus name comes from the classical Latin name for oak trees.
Specific epithet is considered to be a typographical error (Micheal Tenore, 1780-1861, meant to use the southern Italian name of franetto).
‘Schmidt’ is commonly sold under the trade name of FOREST GREEN. It was introduced into commerce by the J. Frank Schmidt Nursery in Oregon in 1987. It is a vigorous tree that is noted for its excellent foliage which reportedly has better resistance to leaf spot problems than the straight species.
Problems
No serious insect or disease 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
Shade tree. Woodland gardens.