Quercus acutissima sawtooth oak

Sawtooth oak is a unique oak species with attractive, long lasting foliage that, more than an oak, resemble sweet chestnut. The leaves are deciduous, glossy, mid green in summer and bright yellow in autumn, and have prominent teeth at margins – it would be an understatement to say they are serrated – hence its common name sawtooth. In spring, just before the leaves emerge, female plants produce rich clusters of greenish-yellow catkins that are followed by ovoid acorns. Adult trees show beautifully fissured, corky bark.

Sawtooth oak is a fast grower, forming a widely conical canopy when young, slowing down with age, and changing the crown shape to more oval with a wider base. This shape, branching structure as well as foliage resemble 2 evergreen oaks: lithocarpus edulis and quercus myrsinifolia. Seedlings of Sawtooth oak vary greatly with leaf-shape as well as mature size and growth rate, however, it is commonly classified as medium sized tree whose ultimate height oscillates around 10m with about half the spread, which makes it suitable for larger gardens, too. Since I love oaks, I need to have every nice one I come across, and as my garden is not inflatable I control their size by spring pruning. The plants get bushier and do not interfere with their neighbouring friends.

This oak will grow in most soil conditions but prefers neutral to slightly acid soil. Avoid wet sites but constant moisture will ensure healthy, lustrous foliage and regular growth. Grow it in full sun or light shade for only a part of the day. Newly planted trees with trunks need to be staked for 2-3 years to establish. Fully hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5), and withstands a few degrees lower for limited time.

Last update 08-01-2013