Woody > Quercus > Quercus shumardii > Quercus shumardii
Quercus shumardii
Shumark Oak
Origin: Southern Ontario, Canada and eastern and central United States of America.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A great tree where space is available to allow the full form to be appreciated. Fantastic autumn colour. A class tree!
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Fagaceae |
| Genus |
| Quercus |
| Species |
| shumardii |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 4a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 - H3 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-26) - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-15) - 30 |
| Height |
| 17-25 m |
| Spread |
| 12-15 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Rounded crown at maturity has beautiful red-orange autumn colour; fast grower. Acorns 2.24 cm long with very small involucres. This species has been placed on the IUCN Red List as least concern. |
| Landscape |
| Used in parks and open spaces where there is plenty of room. Not often seen on large commercial landscapes where it could and should be used. |
| Cultivation |
| Grows in full sun, likes well-drained soils, easily transplanted for an oak; drought tolerant, urban tolerant and adapts to most pH levels but cannot tolerate extremely high pH. |
| Shape |
| Pyramidal in youth, more rounded spread once mature. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| ID Characteristic |
| Leaf arrangement: leaves with 7 pointed lobes 3.8–5.7 cm long. Bud scales appear waxed; acorn is barely covered with involucres. |
| Pests |
| Usually no serious pest problems. Oak gulls cause no real concern because most of them are harmless to the tree. Aphids may be a minor problem. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Grey-brown smooth stems. Older stems have an onion like layer. Also develops dark green furrow, with gray to white ridge tops. Bark is thin and easily damaged by landscape equipment. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| The buds appear to be waxed and lack hair. Also the buds are grey with scales like an onion. Conical to ovate 31-63 mm long. |
| Leaf Description |
| Simple obviate leaves, with pinnate venation. Leaves with 7 pointed lobes sometimes 9 with very deep sinuses. Leaves have a leathery like feel. Leaves are 9-18 cm long and are a deep green colour. |
| Flower Description |
| Blooms in May. Monoecious. Male flowers are long hanging yellow-green catkins. Messy flower. Female flowers are single or paired on a short stalk, appearing with the leaves. |
| Fruit Description |
| Fruit is an acorn that can grow up to 2.24 cm long. Involucres barley covers acorn. Acorn is streaked with brown and black lines. Also the acorns are borne in large numbers and, attract squirrels and other small mammals. The fruit is not ornamental. |
| Colour Description |
| Throughout the season its leaf colour is dark green. In the autumn it is an orange to red colour. The flowers are a green-brown colour and are not showy. Mainly grown for its autumn colour. |
| Texture Description |
| It has coarse bark on trunk and smooth grey stems on the branches. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Weldon Library, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario. |
| Propagation |
| Seed, stratify at 0°–5°C for 30-40 days. This is the most successful way to propagate. |
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