Quercus canariensis

Native range: Mediterranean Height: 20-30 m Width: 20-30 m Flowering: Spring Fruiting: Late summer to autumn Light: Semi-shade to full sun Growth rate: Moderate to fast Soils: Free-draining loam, clay loam and sandy loams Drought tolerance: High Landscape position: Slopes, hillsides Rainfall range: 550 – 900 mm Benefits: Algerian Oak (Quercus canariensis) is a large, long-lived, deciduous, fast growing oak tree species native to Spain, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. In Morocco it occurs in higher rainfall, mountainous regions. Despite its scientific name, it does not occur in the Canary Islands. In cold climates Algerian Oak is fully deciduous, but in warmer areas some or all of its leaves stay green throughout winter, and it is effectively an evergreen tree. The leaves are attractively lobed and glossy green, turning a rusty brown in autumn, with old leaves held on branches well into winter. Algerian Oak is very hardy and can cope with periods of drought, and can be grown in most soil types, though it does best on slightly alkaline soils. Its spreading, dense canopy and large size make it an ideal tree for large parklands and farms. It can be used as a street tree in wide roads, giving excellent cooling shade. It has low flammability, so can be used near areas with dwellings or structures as a fire and wind break. The acorns can used as stock fodder. Algerian Oak has high quality timber with dense heartwood and desirable patterning caused by a high percentage of ray cells. The timber strong and coloured pale to mid brown, and can be used for structural timbers, barrel making, cabinetry and carpentry.  Drawbacks: Too large for domestic gardens. Acorns can be a nuisance in pedestrian areas. Quercus canariensis hybridises with the English Oak (Quercus robur). Hybrid plants are likely to have lower drought tolerance. Leaves can be affected by oak leaf miner, aphids and leafhoppers, and by oak mildew in wet seasons. Uses: Ornamental and landscaping use in parklands and street plantings Large shade plant Shelterbelts Fire risk reduction Acorns can be used as fodder Timber used in cabinetry and carpentry Propagation: From seed or by grafting. Weed risk: Low Future climate risks:  Canopy thinning and slow growth during extended dry years and heatwaves. Increase of disease and insect attack die to uneven climate. References Are woodlots worthwhile? – https://shorturl.at/ckrAB GBIF: The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (2022) – https://www.gbif.org Elaieb et al. 2019. Influence of wood rays on tangential and radial wood shrinkage, Madera y Bosques, Vol. 25:2 https://shorturl.at/gmMX2 Quercus canariensis Willd. in GBIF - the Global Biodiversity Information Facility – https://www.gbif.org/species/2880808 TreeLogic - Quercus canariensis – https://shorturl.at/CDKQZ Uses of valuable broadleaves timber in Catalonia – https://shorturl.at/iF349 Image credits: Quercus_canariensis_Enfoque_2010-10-03_SierraMadrona By Javier martin - Own work, Public Domain, https://shorturl.at/sAFU2 Quercus canariensis in Eastwoodhill Arboretum, Gisborne Region, New Zealand Krzysztof Golik CC 4.0 Autor Krzysztof Golik - Vlastito djelo postavljača, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://shorturl.at/doQTZ Autor Emőke Dénes - kindly granted by the author, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://shorturl.at/ertuK