Quercus cerris Argenteovariegata - Turkey oak

The Quercus cerris Argenteovariegata is a rare variety of Hairy Oak, easily recognizable by its very original and bright foliage. The leaves are very irregularly and relatively deeply toothed, and the green is mixed with cream white to form a pattern unique to each leaf. With smaller dimensions much more suitable for gardens than the species, this variegated variety also grows more slowly. Over time, it forms a beautiful tree with a rounded crown, as wide as it is tall. Growing in sunny exposure, it tolerates partial shade and limestone soils as well as growing in coastal areas.

The Hairy Oak belongs to the Fagaceae family, like the Beech and the Chestnut. It is native to southeastern Europe and is widespread from the Balkan Peninsula to the western shore of the Black Sea and central Europe. It is a species of warm temperate climate that appreciates limestone soils, but not prolonged droughts. The botanical species, with rapid growth, reaches an average height of 20m with a spread of 10-12m but shows a very variable habit, more or less spreading and irregular. This oak develops a crown that is widely conical and becomes rounded over time. It is not uncommon for its main branch to rise and extend to the top, taking over from the trunk by branching into robust branches that will form the crown. The trunk is covered with rough and channelled bark, fragmented into long plates.
The Argenteovariegata variety has a more limited growth than the species, and also slower. With a pyramidal to conical shape, the more or less irregular silhouette eventually rounds out to give a beautiful tree as wide as it is tall, about 10m in all directions. However, you will need to be patient because, like all variegated plants, this Oak grows more slowly than the green-leaved species, which thus has a significantly larger photosynthetic surface area (the white parts of the leaves do not contain the chlorophyll necessary for photosynthesis).
The 8 to 10 cm long leaves are quite narrow and have very irregular toothed edges, with the leaf showing irregular indentations, occasionally doubly toothed. They are relatively dark green with some lighter parts and edged with cream white. Sometimes with a simple border, often asymmetrical, the white surface can also occupy a large part of the leaf. Each leaf therefore has a unique pattern, which gives a very dynamic and bright aspect to the vegetation. In autumn, the foliage turns brownish yellow, remaining attached to the branches for a long time before falling.
The flowering in May, is yellow and quite discreet. This Oak is recognized by the curious appearance of its fruits: the majority of the acorns are enclosed in a hemispherical cupule, densely covered with long frizzled scales, curved backwards, and covered with grey felting. The large, elongated acorns, measure 2.5 to 4 cm long and 2 cm wide. They are solitary or grouped in 2 to 4, orange at the base and brown-green at their tip.
The taproot of this Oak is deep and powerful thus ensuring a solid and lasting grip in the deep soils it appreciates. It prefers limestone but will grow in most soils, except for those that are too acidic and tolerates proximity to the seaside. It prefers sunny exposures but can tolerate light shade, which it will brighten with its superb foliage. It is hardy and can withstand frosts down to -25°C, although these can sometimes crack its bark.

The Hairy Oak is a tolerant species that adapts to most regions, as long as it is planted in sufficiently deep and not too dry soil. Its variegated variety is still rare in our gardens and deserves to be used more. You can plant it alone on a lawn to highlight its exceptional foliage or in a bed with other colourful plants. Cotinus Grace will be a perfect companion. This variety of Smoke Bush is attractive with its foliage that contrasts all year round with that of the Oak, both in itsovate shape and its changing colours, ranging from purple to bright red in autumn. An airy flowering in summer will further enrich your scene. Another plant with decorative foliage, Cercis canadensis Golden Falls is a Canadian Redbud that surprises with its narrow weeping habit. Its heart-shaped leaves have a pattern that contrasts well with those of the Oak, while their colour, changing from orange to golden yellow and lemon green, creates a sensation alongside the purple of the Cotinus and the cream-variegated green of the Hairy Oak. Not to mention its magnificent pink flowering in spring...