Quercus frainetto - Hungarian Oak

Quercus frainetto, the Hungarian oak, is a majestic tree, with fairly rapid growth, hardy and easy to grow in any soil and in a well-cleared location. With a massive crown that spreads with age, and a short trunk, it stands out for the size of its leaves, among the largest in the genus. Intensely lobed, they are green on the upper side, but covered with a whitish down on the underside. Before falling, late in autumn, they take on a beautiful bronze to golden hue. This species will be adopted in a large garden, either as a standalone tree or in alignment.

The Hungarian oak, also known by the Latin names Quercus conferta and Q. pannonica, belongs to the family Fagaceae. It originates from Southeast Europe in an area that extends to the north of Turkey, where it grows at altitudes up to 1000m (3280ft 10in), deeply rooted in often clayey, slightly calcareous and rather dry soils. It is a species that is not very demanding in terms of soil, accepting wet soils and also resistant to wind. Deciduous oaks also have the advantage of producing a good and abundant compost, which is favourable for the growth of plants that germinate under their canopy.

This oak grows rapidly; it will reach an average height of 20m (65ft 7in) and a spread of 12m when mature. Its habit, rather narrow and conical during its youth, becomes more rounded over the years, with the main branches tending to droop on older specimens. Its trunk, quite short, will always be very straight and covered with a finely channelled brownish-grey bark that flakes off in small plates. Upright branches emerge from the trunk, forming a generally spreading and rounded, semi-open crown. Its young twigs are olive green in colour. The characteristic foliage is composed of deciduous leaves that can reach 25cm (9.8in) in length and 14cm (5.5in) in width. Each leaf is divided into numerous rounded lobes, which are themselves dentate along the edges. The colour of the lamina evolves from light and vivid green in spring to glossy green in summer, with the underside covered in a greenish-white down. The flowering of this oak occurs in May, in the form of fairly decorative golden inflorescences. These give way to ovoid acorns, grouped in 2 to 5, which have a characteristic appearance: they are enclosed in a cupule densely covered with short scales. Its root system is deep and powerful, with a taproot type, ensuring a solid and lasting grip in compact or even rocky soils.

Quercus frainetto is a rewarding oak: it will not take fifty years to adopt this respectable stature and majestic appearance that we appreciate so much in these trees. It can be planted either as a standalone tree or in alignment, in a large garden. It also has the advantage of adapting to dry soils, allowing owners of less favourable land to enjoy a very beautiful shade tree, particularly interesting in autumn, but which will let light through in winter. Its fruits, sometimes produced in abundance, feed small animals such as squirrels and jays. It could also be used as a trimmed hedge, like the hornbeam, as it tolerates regular pruning well and its wounds heal remarkably. For example, it can be associated with maples, lindens, and Sophora in a large garden.