Quercus robur Fastigiata - English Oak

Quercus robur 'Fastigiata'  is a beautiful form of the Pedunculate Oak with a columnar habit that should allow this majestic forest inhabitant to fit more easily into a garden. Forming a dense but more or less regular and narrow crown depending on the specimens, the silhouette of this tree widens somewhat over time, without losing any of its splendour. In autumn, its foliage turns yellow-brown, and its browned leaves remain attached to the tree for part of the winter. It will be superb as a standalone specimen, in a mass planting, as a line of trees, or as a hedge to create a windbreak. Perfectly suited to our average climates, the Pedunculate Oak requires light, a deep slightly calcareous, fertile, and moist soil to thrive.

The Pedunculate Oak, which is also known by various names depending on the region such as English Oak, Common Oak, or Durmast Oak, belongs to the Fagaceae family. It is native to a large part of temperate Europe. This venerable tree appreciates sub-oceanic to oceanic climates, or continental climates without excessive heat and relatively humid. It is widespread in our plains and low hills, but rare in the southern Alps and Mediterranean region, which are too dry and too hot. In its natural environment, it can reach a height of 50m (164ft) with a spread of 25 to 30m (82 to 98ft 5in), while its trunk can measure up to 2m (6ft 7in) in diameter. With a fairly exceptional lifespan, this oak tree can live up to 2000 years according to some estimates.

The cultivar 'Fastigiata' (also known as 'Pyramidalis') was selected in Germany in 1874. This tree will reach a mature height of approximately 17.50m (57ft 5in) with a spread of 3-4m. The growth rate of this oak is moderately fast. Its habit is fastigiate, well-branched, supported by sturdy branches that are rather upright. The trunk is short and covered with initially green and smooth bark, which later becomes grey, thick, and deeply fissured. Its young branches are glabrous and reddish-brown in colour. The foliage of this variety consists of alternate, soft leaves with variable appearance, ranging from obovate to elongated oval, slightly larger than those of the wild species. The colour of the lamina is dark green in summer, the leaves turn yellow then brown, quite late in autumn, and remain attached to the branches for a few weeks before falling. The flowering of this Fastigiate Oak occurs in April-May, shortly after the emergence of the foliage, on the annual shoots. The female flowers are placed in a cupule carried by a long peduncle: this distinctive feature is the origin of the species name, pedunculata. The male inflorescences are elongated, pendulous catkins, tinged with yellow. They are produced on older branches. The female flowers give way to ovoid and elongated acorns, measuring 1.5 to 3cm (0.6 to 1.2in) in length. They are often grouped in pairs or threes and attached to a long peduncle. A cupule covered with scales covers one-third of the acorn. The colour changes from green to brown at maturity, in September and October. The root system of this tree is deep and powerful, with both a taproot and extensive lateral roots, providing a solid and durable anchorage in deep and compact soils.

The Fastigiate Oak, with its slightly unpredictable habit, is a little less suited to our gardens than its clone 'Fastigiata Koster', which is narrower, more regular, and slightly shorter. Nevertheless, it is a very beautiful ornamental tree if you have sufficient space. It can be planted as a standalone specimen at the edge of a large garden open to the countryside, in a row along a wide and large avenue, or in a large grove with other native species. This tree also offers the advantage of producing abundant leaf litter, which is favourable for the growth of certain plants that germinate under its cover. The acorns of this oak tree provide food for small animals such as squirrels and jays.