Quercus pubescens

Origin: Southern Europe, Western Asia, Caucasus.

Botanical characteristics: It is a fast-growing deciduous tree, reaching 20 meters in height, with pyramidal or globular crown. Leaves are oblong to lanceolate, whose base is wedge-shaped. They have 5-7 deeply incised lobes on each side; having down on the upper side when young, then they turn glabrous and more or less shiny, white and tomentose on the lower page. It is a monoecious plant with male flowers in yellow catkins and insignificant female flowers, separated but on the same plant. Fruits: oblong acorns with dome covered with downy scales.

Agronomic and environmental characteristics: It is very common in hot and dry areas of sub-Mediterranean zone, on dry lowland forests, hills and low mountains up to 1200 meters. It adapts to calcareous, dry and rocky soils. It hybridizes easily with Quercus petraea and Quercus robur.

Use: It is not used in the garden. It is used as isolated plant or in groups in parks, including avenues and is suitable for the naturalization of overgrown, brownfield areas, hills and mountains or to protect the soil in dry and rocky lands.