Cork Oak
Quercus suber
- Native to:
- Algeria, Corse, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia
Roger Culos
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus suber
- USDA Symbol:
- QUSU5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Bucculatrix albertiella, California oakworm (Phryganidia californica), Cecropis moth (Automeris cecrops), Coptodisca powellella, Nemoria glaucomarginaria, oak leaf skeletonizer (Bucculatrix ainsliella), Rectiostoma fernaldella, Tischeria discreta, Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick, fire-resistant cork bark allows survival and rapid recovery after low to moderate intensity fires. Historically managed with fire in Mediterranean cork woodlands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 7.0 (acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to Mediterranean regions, often found in poor soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Acorns are recalcitrant and should be sown fresh; they lose viability quickly if allowed to dry out.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI