There are few trees that have the long and storied history of oaks. And it’s no wonder, considering that oaks are one of the longest living trees in the Northern Hemisphere. Astonishingly, the “Major Oak” growing in Sherwood forest in Nottinghamshire, England is touted to be between 800 and 1000 years old! There is a long-standing tradition that Robin Hood actually used the tree as a hiding place while on the run from the Sheriff of Nottingham! Isn’t that cool? Yes it is! Just think – if you were to plant an English oak today on Nantucket, it could potentially be the last tree standing when the Atlantic swallows the island back up.
Most oaks prefer slightly acidic, evenly moist, average soil. They are not generally fast growing but eventually can become very large with wide spreading branches that descend under their own weight to lay on the ground. The species following are all considered large trees when mature and are often planted in parks and larger landscapes off island. Luckily, as with many trees, there are cultivars that will fit into smaller gardens. Upright cultivars like ‘Fastigiata’ and Regal Prince (r) are equally hardy and perform well on Nantucket. I’ll highlight a few below:
Sawtooth Oak, Quercus acutissima is a broadly pyramidal tree that might reach 40 to 60 feet tall on the mainland, likely somewhat shorter on Nantucket. Its leaves don’t have a classic oak shape. They look much more like hornbeam or beech tree leaves to me. They open yellow in spring, mature to a glabrous green in summer and, in good years, will turn a clear yellow in November, before aging to tan. They are very easy to grow and resist pests and diseases. Like all oaks, they are slow to mature, and juvenile trees will tend to hold their leaves all winter. Sawtooth Oak can produce very heavy crops of acorns, and they are generally the earliest to ripen of the genus.
Swamp White Oak, Quercus bicolor, is a broad tree that will reach 50 to 60 feet tall on the mainland. The overall shape is a wide, round-topped crown, with a short trunk. The leaves of this species are much more recognizable: deep green, lustrous and lobed, with a grayish fuzz on the underside. Naturally occurring in moist areas with acidic soil, they are an ideal tree for a low area on your property in need of a majestic shade tree.
English Oak, Quercus robur, is also a broad tree with a height and spread of 40 to 60 feet on the mainland. The canopy is broad and rounded. The dark blue/green leaves of English Oak have a typical Oak-shape, with rounded lobes.
- Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ is an excellent upright cultivar that will grow very tall, but only 10-15 feet wide.
- Regal Prince (r), has become a popular choice – It’s a hybrid between English and Swamp
White oak. This particular variety is touted to be very tight, almost oval in habit.
Scrub Oak, Quercus ilicifolia, is one of our native oaks. This oak has a characteristic wiggly appearance to the branches, with a flat, domed top, seldom reaching taller than 12′ on Nantucket. The leaves of this species are the familiar lobed oak-shape. They occur naturally all over the island in poor soils. We’re often asked to source this tree but unfortunately, it’s not available in the trade. If you’re determined to have some of these wacky trees in your yard, you might try growing them yourself. I’ve had good luck growing out seedlings from acorns collected in the fall. I placed them in a zip lock bag with damp soil and put them in the refrigerator until they began to sprout. Once sprouted, I potted them up. After two growing seasons, my tallest tree is only 12″ tall, but I’m hoping for them to double in size next year once transferred to larger pots.
There are loads of other oaks to consider as well: Quercus velutina, black oak; Quercus stellata, post oak; Quercus phellos, willow leaf oak; Quercus macrocarpa, burr oak; Quercus coccinea, scarlet oak; Quercus alba, white oak; and Quercus rubra, red oak are all native to Northeastern United States and worth a look.