University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Publications Nebraska Statewide Arboretum 2013 Oaks for Nebraska Justin R. Evertson University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/arboretumpubs Part of the Botany Commons, and the Forest Biology Commons Evertson, Justin R., "Oaks for Nebraska" (2013). Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Publications. 1. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/arboretumpubs/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Oaks for Nebraska Justin Evertson, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum arboretum.unl.edu or retreenebraska.unl.edu R = belongs to red oak group—acorns mature over two seasons & leaves typically have pointed lobes. W = belongs to white oak group— acorns mature in one season & leaves typically have rounded lobes. Estimated size range is height x spread for trees growing in eastern Nebraska. A few places to see oaks: Indian Dwarf chinkapin oak, Quercus Cave State Park; Krumme Arboretum Blackjack oak, Quercus prinoides (W) in Falls City; Peru State College; marilandica (R) Variable habit from shrubby to Fontenelle Nature Center in Bellevue; Shorter and slower growing than tree form; prolific acorn producer; Elmwood Park in Omaha; Wayne most oaks with distinctive tri- can have nice yellow fall color; Park in Waverly; University of lobed leaves; can take on a very national champion grows near Nebraska Lincoln; Lincoln Regional natural look with age; tough and Salem Nebraska; 10-25’x 10-20’. Center Arboretum; Ehman Park underutilized; good fall color; 30- in Gothenburg; Highland Park in 40’x 25-35’. Hastings; UNL Extension Center & Cody Park in North Platte; and UNL Extension Center in Scottsbluff. Native Nebraska Oaks Bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa (W) Red oak, Quercus rubra (R) Our most common native oak; big Very reliable native; rounded habit; and majestic - tough and reliable; 7-9 shallowly lobed leaves are thick, corky bark helped it to dull-green in summer with nice red withstand prairie fire; twigs can fall color; 50-60’x 45-55’. have very corky ridges; large, fat, fan-shaped leaves; named for large acorns with bur-like fringes; 50- Black oak, Quercus velutina (R) 70’x 50-70’. Large growing native similar to red oak; leaves are glossy and dark-green above with velvety undersides; nice red-maroon fall color; should be planted more; 40- 50’x 40-50’. White oak, Quercus alba (W) Native to eastern Great Plains and extreme southeast Nebraska; similar in stature to bur oak – Chinkapin oak, Quercus majestic and inspiring; light gray, muehlenbergii (W) scaly bark; fewer acorns; good fall Narrow, chestnut-like leaves; flaky, color; 55-65’x 55-60’. gray-yellowish bark with maturity; tolerates high pH soils; should be planted more; 40-60’x 30-50’. Native U.S. Oaks Pin oak, Quercus palustris (R): Gambel oak, Quercus gambelii Beautiful, tall, upright habit with (W): Native to southern Rocky descending lower branches; good Bear oak, Quercus ilicifolia (R): Mountains; variable multi-stem fall color; heavy acorn producer; Shrubby, multi-stem habit; native habit – can be very shrubby in dry, very prone to iron chlorosis and to northeastern US; leaves similar difficult locations and more tree- should only be planted on acidic to red oak; slow grower; 10-20’ x like on better sites; very drought soils (pH <7.0); 50-70’x 40-50’. 10-20’. tolerant; 15-25’x 10-20’. Post oak, Quercus stellata (W) Tough, corky bark; medium Cherrybark oak, Quercus pagoda rounded tree; distinctive, cruciform (R): Similar to red oak but with Northern pin (Hill’s) oak, Quercus ellipsoidalis (R) leaves; native into southern Iowa rough, scaly bark that can resemble and eastern Kansas; 25-35’x 25-35’. black cherry when mature; prefers Similar to pin oak but less prone to moist, fertile soils; can be fast iron chlorosis; native to northern growing; 40-60’x 35-50’. US; good red/maroon fall color; 40-50’x 35-45’. Scarlet oak, Quercus coccinea (R): Similar to pin oak; scarlet fall Chestnut oak, Quercus montana color; avoid high pH soils; 45-60’x (W): Bright green, chestnut-like Overcup oak, Quercus lyrata (W) 40-50’. leaf; prefers moist, fertile soils; Large bur oak-like leaves; acorns distinctive ridged bark somewhat nearly covered by cap; 40-50’x resembles an alligator’s back when 35-45’. mature; 45-60’x 40-50’. Shingle oak, Quercus imbricaria (R): Distinctive narrow, smooth- edged leaves that are held through winter; tan-yellow fall color; 40- 50’x 35-45’. Shumard oak, Quercus shumardii (R): Very similar to red oak in Japanese Emperor (Daimyo) habit and leaf shape; good heat and Texas red (Buckley) oak, Quercus oak, Quercus dentata: Similar to drought tolerance; reliable red fall buckleyi (R): Related to shumard Q. mongolica; large, thick, fuzzy color; should be planted more; 40- oak but leaves smaller and leaves held through winter making 50’x 40-50’. more glossy; native to southern it somewhat prone to ice damage Great Plains; very good drought when young; 25-40’x 20-40’. tolerance; bright red fall color; 25- 40’x 20-35’. Swamp chestnut oak, Quercus Liotung oak, Quercus michauxii (W): Similar to chestnut liaotungensis: Native to China and oak; native to wetter soils of Wavyleaf oak, Quercus xundulata similar to Mongolian oak; large southeastern US; scaly-grayish bark (W): A naturally occurring hybrid leaves; 30-40’x 30-40’. similar to white oak; 40-50’x 40-50’. of Q. gambelii and Q. turbinella from Rocky Mountains and SW US; semi-evergreen leaves; typically multi-stem and shrubby; 10-20’x 10-20’. Non-native Oaks Mongolian oak, Quercus mongolica (W): Similar to Bur Oak in habit and adaptability though doesn’t grow as large; Swamp white oak, Quercus chestnut-like leaves; performing bicolor (W): One of the most English oak, Quercus robur (W) well in N. Dakota; 40-50’x 34-45’. popular oaks for planting; Similar to white oak but with attractive glossy leaves with smaller, glossy-green leaves and silvery underside; good for wet or long, abundant acorns; habit can dry soils; can be chlorotic on high vary from round and spreading to pH soils; 60’x 50’ upright; tough and reliable; 60’x 50’. a vigorous grower; good fall color on some trees; 50-60’x 50-60’. Mohr (shin) oak, Quercus mohriana: Native to New Mexico, Red-pin oak, Quercus west Texas/Oklahoma; shrubby, xcolumnaris (Q. palustris x rubra): multi-stem habit; distinctive leaves Fairly common hybrid in nature with silvery pubescent undersides; and in nursery industry; many nice, tolerates dry, alkaline soils; 15- large trees grow in Lincoln; avoid 25’x 10-20’. high pH soils; 50-60’x 40-50’. Oriental white oak, Quercus English oak Cultivars aliena: Little know oak from China; glossy, chestnut-like leaves; ‘Clemons’ (Heritage) Oak, nice fall color; doing well in Sawtooth oak, Quercus Bur-English oak cross: Quercus Waverly; 40-50’x 30-40’. acutissima: Fast growing oak xmacdanielii (Q. macrocarpa from Asia; long, narrow leaves x robur): Vigorous grower with Shrub live oak, Quercus with sawtooth-like edges; upright abundant acorn production; glossy turbinella (W): Shrubby habit; growth when young; distinctive leaves resist mildew; 50-60’x 30- semi-evergreen; best for western frilled acorn caps; 50-60’x 40-50’. 40’. Great Plains; 15’x 15’. ‘Crimson Spire’ oak, White- Oak Hybrids, Southern red oak, Quercus English cross, Quercus falcata: Somewhat similar to red Varieties & Cultivars xbimundorum (Quercus alba oak but with distinctive turkey-foot x robur): Possesses a narrow- like leaves that have wider lower Black-blackjack (Bush) oak, growing habit and red fall color; lobes; maroon fall color; good Quercus xbushii (Q. marilandica 40’x 15’. on dry sites; does well in eastern x velutina), N: Very similar to Kansas; 30-40’x 30-40’. blackjack oak; occurs naturally ‘Regal Prince’ (Ware) oak, in southeast Nebraska; 20-30’x Swamp white-columnar English, Water oak, Quercus nigra: 20-30’. Quercus xwarei (Q. robur var Very distinctive tip-heavy leaves fastigiata x bicolor): Regal Prince somewhat like blackjack oak; Bur-chinkapin (Deams) oak, Oak has a very attractive, upright prefers moist, well-drained soils; Quercus xdeamii (Q. macrocarpa habit with glossy foliage. 30-40’x 30-40’. x muehlenbergii), N: Occasionally found in southeast Nebraska; a Potential Oaks Nuttall oak, Quercus nuttallii: nice specimen grows on Peru State (need further testing or special siting) Similar to shumard oak; native to College campus; 40-60’x 40-50’. lower Mississippi drainage basin; Chinese cork oak, Quercus tolerates poorly drained soils; red variabilis: Leaves and habit similar Bur-gambel oak, Quercus fall color; 40-60’x 35-50’. macrocarpa x gambelii: Great heat to sawtooth oak; corky bark; 40- 60’x 35-55’. and drought tolerance makes it Turkey oak, Quercus cerris (I): a good choice for western Great Native to Europe and Asia Minor, Downy oak, Quercus pubescens: Plains; abundant acorns at a young including Turkey; leaves similar to Attractive small, leathery leaves age (4yrs); 25-40’x 25-45’. white oak; tolerates alkaline soils; that emerge pubescent, thus its 40-60’x 40-50’. Bur-swamp white (Schuette) oak, common name; short, irregular habit; doing well in Waverly; 20- Quercus xschuettei (Q. bicolor Willow oak, Quercus phellos: 30’x 20-30’. x macrocarpa): Vigorous habit; Narrow willow-like leaves; glossy, dark green leaves resist pin-oak like habit and siting Hungarian oak, Quercus lace bugs; good acorn production; requirements; 45’x 40’.