Quercus suber

Native range: Mediterranean Height: 10-15 m Width: 10-15 m Flowering: Spring Fruiting: Autumn to WInter Light: Full sun Growth rate: Slow Soils: Free-draining stony, gravely and loam clay loam soils Drought tolerance: High Landscape position: Lower slopes Rainfall range: 500 – 1000 mm Benefits: Quercus suber, the Cork Oak, is a very long-lived, slow growing evergreen tree native to the western parts of the Mediterranean. They are a medium-sized tree with an attractive rounded canopy that provides good shade. Extremely drought and heat tolerant, Cork Oak does not grow well in very cold, frosty sites or in heavy soils prone to waterlogging. Its bark is the source of cork used in wine corks, cork flooring and cricket balls. The bark of Cork Oak is thick and fire resistant, making them a good fire-suppressant planting, so long as the flammable litter is controlled. Cork Oaks are a good choice for landscape plantings in dry areas and bring a classic Mediterranean feel to landscaping plantings. Their slow growth rates and acorns make them less useful for street and driveway plantings. The broad shape and dense shade of Cork Oak make it a good candidate for paddock shade and agroforestry shelterbelt or woodlot plantings. The acorns are excellent stock fodder and used in Spain to raise Iberian pigs, used to produce jamon.  There is hardly any cork production in Australia. Early trials were established in unsuitable sites and subsequently failed. However, the cork plantation in Canberra does successfully produce cork. Cork cannot be harvested until trees are around 25 years old. Subsequent harvests are done at nine-year intervals. Cork is finding new markets as a renewable building and insulation product, used in interior and exterior wall cladding. Cork production is a long-term investment that requires serious consideration. Cork Oak timber is strong, high-quality wood used in construction and ship building. It makes excellent firewood wood and charcoal. Drawbacks: Trees too large for small domestic gardens. Site locations for cork plantations need to be properly assessed need. Lead time to production is decades long (25+ years), with repeat harvesting every nine years. Harvesting cork is a highly skilled job. Uses: Ornamental and landscaping use in parklands and gardens Shelterbelts Cork production Fodder for stock High quality timber Timber for firewood and charcoal Propagation: From seed. Weed risk: Low Future climate risks:  Reduction in winter rains may cause slow growth. Increase of disease and insect attack due to uneven climate. References ABC News– https://shorturl.at/abv35 Australian Forest History –Society https://shorturl.at/qxz18 Agriculture Victoria –https://shorturl.at/jmJT9 GBIF: The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (2022) – https://www.gbif.org/species/2879411 Plants of the World Online –https://shorturl.at/ipzBH The Architectural Review – https://shorturl.at/p1356 Image Credits Quercus-suber-AJPereira CC BY-NC 4.0 – https://flora-on.pt/#/hWQFc 0_Quercus_suber_-_Filitosa_JPG1 By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 –https://shorturl.at/cmIQ8