Jesse Saylor
Family
Fagaceae
Botanical Name
Quercus cerris
Plant Common Name
Eurpoean Turkey Oak, Moss-cupped Oak
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Variable in the shape of its lobed, oblong leaves, European turkey oak forms entertaining acorns that have a frilly, scaled cap. A fast-growing oak, this deciduous tree is native across much of central and southern Europe, including western Turkey. It becomes a handsomely shaped plant, with an spreading but rounded canopy. Its bark is whitish gray to snady gray and while corky, will crack into fissured plates.
The dull, deep green leaves are variable in shape, from oval to nearly lance-like and have many deep lobes or teeth. They are covered in felt-like hairs and are lighter on their undersides. As the new leaves open in spring, the male flowers appear. These greenish pendent catkins spread copious amount of pollen and are directly followed by the female flowers, which are tiny, red and found at the base of the young leaves. The large fruits (acorns) are bluntly pointed and oblong that have olive-tan scaled caps, looking like mossy hairs. They ripen to tan-brown. The fall foliage color is a yellowish brown.
Grow European turkey oak in full to partial sun in any average soil, sandy to clay, that is fertile, moist and has good drainage. It is tolerant of drought, saltspray and grows in acidic to slightly alkaline ground. A great shade tree, one drawback is its seeming branch weaknesses, as limbs readily break away in storm winds.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 9
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Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
30'-60' / 9.1m - 18.3m
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Width
35'-55' / 10.7m - 16.8m
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Bloom Time
Spring
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Native To
Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe, Turkey
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Red, Yellow Green
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Fruit Color
Tan, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow Green, Gold, Tan
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Bark Color
Sandy Brown, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
Yes
