Description
Quercus suber – Cork Oak
Brief Description: The Cork Oak is the Mediterranean counterpart to the native oak – with a distinctive, thick, and deeply furrowed cork bark that feels warm and soft and is an eye-catcher all year round. As an evergreen oak with small, spiny-toothed leaves, it brings a Mediterranean flair to the garden. In its native regions – Spain, Portugal, North Africa – it provides the coveted natural cork.
- Growth height 20m
- Used for cork harvesting
- Evergreen
Climatic Characteristics & Site Conditions: The cork oak is winter hardy down to approx. –12 to –15 °C and is therefore only suitable for the mildest locations in Europe – Kaiserstuhl, Markgräflerland, Lake Constance region, and sheltered urban areas such as Freiburg or Mannheim. It is at risk of frost in harsh locations, altitudes above 400 m, and during prolonged periods of black frost. It prefers acidic, well-drained, and dry soils; it does not tolerate calcareous sites or waterlogging. With global warming, its range of application in Southwest Germany is slowly expanding.
Advantages: Evergreen with distinctive cork bark, Mediterranean flair, drought-tolerant, attractive all year round, future-proof in warmer regions with climate change.
Disadvantages: Frost-sensitive – only for the mildest locations in Europe, no calcareous soils, no waterlogging, slow growth, rare and expensive in trade, requires ample space.
