Family:	Fagaceae
Genus:	Quercus
Species:	robur
Common name:	English oak
Height:	25m
Spread:	25m

Native to Europe (inc UK), Caucasus, SW Asia, N Africa.

A sturdy, round-crowned deciduous tree with a height and spread up to around 25m, known for its acorns in autumn.

In late spring, leaves and flowers emerge together. Leaves are lobed and elliptical, with little or no petiole, and they are glossy; initially succulent yellow-green, thickening as they mature to mid-green, then turning yellow before dropping in autumn.

Male flowers are small and yellow, roughly globoid and held on short pendulous spikes. Female flowers are similar, but with tinier flowers on shorter peduncles, and on pollination will develop into acorns.

In autumn, acorns hang in bunches from peduncles (unlike the similar Q. petraea, which has acorns attached directly to shoots). The acorns mature from green to brown before the seed is released from the cupule and drops to the ground.

Bark is grey-brown and vertically ridged. In winter, the dull grey-brown shoots have slightly pointed, rounded reddened buds placed randomly along the shoots with clusters at the tip.

Tolerant of most conditions but will grow to its most magnificent in a deep fertile soil.

Can be used as a specimen tree, or in native or wildlife schemes.