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Re: Cork oak - Quercus suber

Thanks Cyndi for chiming in.  I was about to send my own message.  I live
in Sunset zone 24 (coastal San Diego) and just planted two cork oaks....
mostly in response to having seen some magnificent specimens in a nearby
botanical garden (Quail Gardens) that is located about a mile from the
beach.... Coastal conditions haven't seemed to have an adverse affect on
these mature trees.....  And if I recall correctly, there are trees planted
on the campus of the University of California Santa Barbara, which is
located on a bluff overlooking the ocean, i.e. the trees might even have
gotten salt spray....

 In my experience, they are quick growers and beautiful trees.  Their value
is not so much the foliage or orverall shape (they tend to be a bit more
scraggly shaped) but the bark is so incredible.

Go ahead, Tim,  plant it, and enjoy

Nan
>
>"Quercus suber CORK OAK.  Evergreen.  Zones 5-7 (with occasional winter
>damage), 8-16, 18-23.  [Note: there are 24 Sunset zones.  16 is me in
>Oakland, 17 is San Francisco fog, 23 is southern Calif but not right at the
>coast.  24 is coastal San Diego and somewhat north.  This tells me it
>doesn't like coastal conditions.]
>
>"Native to Mediterranean region.  Moderate growth rate to 70-100 feet high
>and as wide.  Trunk and principal limbs covered with thick, corky bark
>(cork of commerce).  The toothed, 3-inch leaves are shiny dark green above,
>gray beneath.  General effect is fine textured.  Needs good drainage.
>Fairly tolerant of different soil types, but likely to yellow in alkaline
>soils.  Established trees can take considerable aridity.  One of best oaks
>for desert.
>
>"Good garden shade tree with interesting contrast between fairly
>light-textured foliage and massive, fissured trunk.  Value as street gree
>or park tree diminishes when children find out how easy it is to carve
>bark."
>
>The general instructions given for oaks include: "Full sun.  Don't water
>natives; water planted ones [later it says no water needed once
>estabilished]...An oak tree planted in a garden [contrasted with old
>exisiting ones] will grow vigourously and fast (1 1/2-4 feet a year).  It
>probably will not experience trouble--whether it's a western native or
>not."
>
>I hope this is helpful.
>
>Cyndi
>
>--
>_______________________________________________________________________________
>"There's nothing wrong with me.  Maybe there's                     Cyndi Norman
>something wrong with the universe." (ST:TNG)                   cnorman@best.com
>__________________________________________________ http://www.best.com/~cnorman

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Nan Sterman, Master Composter in Residency
Olivenhain, California
Sunset Zone 24, USDA Zone 10b or 11
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So goes an old chinese proverb:
         If you want to be happy for a few hours, get drunk;
         If you want to be happy for a week-end get married;
         If you want to be happy for a week, barbeque a pig;
         If you want to be happy all your life long become a gardener
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