Cork oak

The Cork Oak is a fascinating evergreen tree with immense character, bringing a piece of the Mediterranean landscape to milder UK gardens. Its most distinctive feature is its deeply fissured, spongy, grey-brown bark, the source of commercial cork. It bears glossy, dark green, oval leaves, often with a slightly toothed margin. This drought-tolerant tree thrives in full sun and well-drained, preferably acidic to neutral soil. While slow-growing, it develops into a handsome specimen tree, providing valuable evergreen structure and an unusual tactile element to the garden. Best suited to sheltered positions away from severe frost.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained, acidic to neutral.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: May, Jun.