Quercus robur Salfast - English oak

Quercus robur 'Salfast' is a hybrid of Quercus robur var. salicifolia and Q. robur 'Fastigiata'. It takes from the former narrow and unlobed leaves, and from the latter its narrow and upright habit. It forms a medium-sized tree with a dense crown, growing faster than the typical variety. In autumn, its foliage turns yellow-brown, and its browned leaves remain attached to the tree for part of the winter. It is ideal as an accent, in group plantings, or in vertical hedges. Perfectly suited to our average climates, the pedunculate oak requires light to thrive and deep, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, fertile, moist soil.

The pedunculate oak, also known as the English oak or common oak, belongs to the fagaceae family. It is native to a large part of temperate Europe. This venerable tree thrives in sub-oceanic to oceanic climates, or relatively humid continental climates without extremes. It is widespread in lowland plains and hills. In its natural habitat, it can reach a height of 50m with a spread of 25 to 30m, while its trunk can measure up to 2m in diameter. With a fairly exceptional longevity, this oak can live up to 2000 years according to some estimates.

The 'Salfast' cultivar reaches a mature height of approximately 15 to 18 metres with a spread of 4 to 5 metres. 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 then becomes grey, thick, and deeply fissured. Its young branches are smooth and reddish-brown. The foliage of this variety consists of alternate leaves, of variable appearance, elongated and rounded, unlobed and untoothed. The leaf is dark green in summer, turning yellow and then brown, quite late in autumn, and remaining attached to the branches for a few weeks before falling. The flowering of this oak occurs in April-May, shortly after the appearance of the foliage, on the annual shoots. The female flowers are placed in a cupule carried by a long peduncle: this distinctive characteristic is the origin of the species name, pedunculate. 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 3 cm 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 when mature, in September and October. The root system of this tree is deep and powerful, with both taproot and extensively spreading roots, providing a solid and long-lasting anchorage in deep and compact soils.

The 'Salfast' oak can be planted in medium to large-sized gardens, either in rows along a large avenue or in a large grove with other native species. This tree also produces abundant leaf litter, favourable for the growth of certain plants that germinate under its canopy. This oak can also find its place in a large vegetative curtain, associated with hornbeams, beeches, or even hazelnuts, for example. Its fruits provide food for small animals such as squirrels and jays.