{"product_id":"downy-oak-quercus-pubescens","title":"Downy Oak (quercus pubescens)","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eMedium-sized deciduous tree (typically 12–16 m, occasionally to 20 m) with a broad, irregular crown, attractive grey fissured bark, and soft downy young leaves\/twigs. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eExcellent drought tolerance once established, plus good wind and moderate salt resistance—well suited to a warming UK climate and poorer\/drier sites. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eThrives on calcareous, rocky or low-fertility soils where many native oaks struggle; low-maintenance and useful as a specimen, park or urban tree. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eSupports wildlife via acorns; sometimes linked to truffle cultivation. Hardy in much of the UK.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1adg3ll r-1g7jtus r-1x3r274\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-1x3r274\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003ePlanting \u0026amp; growing tips\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-1x3r274\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eSite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003e: Full sun preferred (tolerates light\/partial shade when young); open position with space for eventual spread (10–15 m+). Avoid heavy maritime exposure. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-1x3r274\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eSoil\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003e: Well-drained; prefers calcareous\/loamy but adapts to clay, sand, mildly acid to alkaline pH. Tolerates poorer\/drier soils; avoid prolonged waterlogging. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-1x3r274\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eWhen to plant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003e: Dormant season (mid-November to late April for root-balled stock; late winter\/early spring often ideal). Plant young trees in final positions—deep taproot makes transplanting difficult later. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-1x3r274\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eMethod\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003e: Dig a hole twice as wide as the rootball (same depth); firm well, water thoroughly, mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Space trees well apart (several metres minimum for specimens). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-1x3r274\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eAftercare\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003e: Water deeply during dry spells for the first 2–3 years. Once established, needs little irrigation or fertiliser. Minimal pruning (remove dead\/diseased wood in late winter); protect young plants from browsing if needed. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-1x3r274\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003eGrowth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003e: Medium rate; long-lived. Not native to the UK but increasingly planted for climate resilience.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1x3r274\"\u003ePhoto Credit: By Franz Xaver - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=4213200 (cropped)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Cumbria Tree Growers Ltd","offers":[{"title":"30-50cm","offer_id":58492714877272,"sku":null,"price":2.28,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1012\/4879\/4968\/files\/Quercus_pubescens_1.jpg?v=1790515699","url":"https:\/\/www.treegrowers.co.uk\/products\/downy-oak-quercus-pubescens","provider":"Cumbria Tree Growers Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}