English Oak

Arbor walk #99, Treekeeper ID #6570

English Oak is native and found in mixed woodland areas and planted widely in the North America since the 1600s. It has long been a timber source in England. English Oak prefers a moist well-drained soil but can adapt to a wide range of soil conditions. It may take 25 or more years to bear acorns.

Common NameEnglish Oak
Latin NameQuercus robur
Indigenous Name(s)
Cultivar/Variety
Commercial Name
Global Distribution

English Oak is a parent to the Ware’s Oak and the Heritage® Oak

Where to find Arbor Walk #99 on WashU campus
Our English Oak in space
GPS Coordinates

N/A

Percent Concrete

N/A

Distance to Buildings
YearClose Building #1Close Building #2Close Building #3
Distance to Other Species
YearClose Species #1Close Species # 2Close Species # 3
Our English Oak through time
Standard Measurements
YearHeight (m)DBH (cm)Caliper (m)Crown Diameter N-S (m)Crown Diameter E-W (m)Average Crown Diameter (m)
20235.87.5N/A2.852.692.77
Nests and Pests
YearDescription
2023N/A
How to identify an English Oak

Leaf Identification

The leaves of the English Oak are short stalked with blunted, finger-like lobes. At the leaf base, there are two small ear-shaped lobes that point down and away from the midvein. They are a dark green color, with a yellow-green underside. In the fall, these leaves will turn golden yellow.

Twig and Bud Identification

The twig is light brown, with a yellowish or reddish tint to the twig and buds. The buds are fully covered in reddish-brown scales, which have sparse hairs sticking out from scale fringes but not on the scales themselves. Numerous buds grow at or near the terminal bud.

Bark Identification

The English Oak has rigid, dark gray to black bark.

Fruit Identification

The English Oak has oval acorns, more elongated than most oaks. The cup has gray scales but does not extend far down the nut. Acorns are between 1/2″ and 1″ in length, and grow in groups of 1-3 acorns per stalk.

Flower Identification

The flowers of the English Oak are yellowish-green and inconspicuous. The males hang in clusters of catkins, and the females are tiny spikes on the leaf axis.

[photo forthcoming]

ID Tips
  • The leaves of the English Oak look incredibly similar to the White Oak; both have numerous finger-like lobes. However, the English Oak can be distinguished by the small, ear-shaped lobes at the base of the leaf and its shorter petiole (leafstalk).
Relationship of Quercus robur to other species in the arboretum
Additional resources on the English Oak