Scientific: Quercus canariensis (Synonyms: Quercus carpinifolia, Quercus corymbifolia, Quercus esculenta, Quercus faginea subsp. baetica, Quercus mirbeckii, Quercus nordafricana, Quercus viveri)
Common: Algerian oak, Mirbeck's oak, Canary Island oak, zean oak, Tash't oak
Family: Fagaceae
Origin: Oak woodlands of the Mediterranean region of north African and the Iberian Peninsula.
Pronounciation: QUER-cus ca-nar-ee-EN-sis
Hardiness zones
Sunset 12-24
USDA 9-11
Landscape Use: Smaller, shade tree for intermediate to large mesic and oasis landscape spaces, urban parks, residential backyards, lawn tree.
Form & Character: Upright and clean, bark of mature trees roughened and light gray, Mediterranean.
Growth Habit: Semi-evergreen, woody, broadleaf perennial tree, moderately upright to 25- to 40-feet tall with slightly greater spread when fully mature (usually much larger in moister climates).
Foliage/Texture: Elliptic- to obovate-shaped, dark green leaves, 4- to 5-inches long, adaxial surface glabrous, thick and leathery with distinct pinnate veination, abaxial side glaucous, leaf margins are coarsely toothed (bluntly serrate) and entire tapering to a acuminate tip. Young developing leaves are first reddened then bright green; medium texture.
Flowers & Fruits: Monoecious, male flowers are conspicuous yellow catkins (spring), female flowers stalked and inconspicuous; fruits are acorns to about 1-inch long, cup with flattened, downy scales, enclosing the lowest third of the acorn.
Seasonal Color: None
Temperature: Cold tolerant, above 112oF leaf margins become mildly necrotic (premature senescence).
Light: Full sun
Soil: Tolerant
Watering: Infrequent, deep summer irrigations to regular water is needed in Phoenix. Algerian oak is tolerant of lawn conditions; also salt tolerant.
Pruning: In Phoenix, elevate canopy base (crown raise) very slowly and only as needed because the trunk is mildly susceptible to sunscald.
Propagation: Seed, but seedling plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible.
Disease and Pests: Spider mites when foliage becomes overly dusty.
Additional comments: Algerian oak is an excellent selection for large mesic and oasis (greenery) landscaped spaces when a tree with a regular, upright and spreading form is desired. In my opinion, like holly oak, Algerian oak should be planted more in mesic Phoenix landscapes. Other than trunk sunscald, this is a great, tough semi-evergreen tree. Mature trees have a dense heartwood with a desirable pattern caused by a high percentage of ray cells that can be used for structural timbers, barrel making, cabinetry and carpentry.
Taxonomic tidbit: Despite the given species name canariensis, Algerian oak does not naturally occur in the Canary Islands, though it might have in the past.
