Quercus warei Windcandle

The Quercus (x) warei Windcandle is an interesting hybrid oak known for its columnar, elegant, well-defined and less bulky habit, natural resistance to powdery mildew, as well as its beautiful autumn and winter colours. It bears large and beautiful deeply lobed leaves with a glossy green color that twist and retain a beautiful silvery beige colour in winter. Known as marcescent leaves, they remain attached to the branches throughout the winter. This tree is hardy and thrives in any deep, moist to dry soil. Its moderate growth is suitable for medium to large gardens.

The Windcandle oak, obtained in the United States, is a hybrid between the Quercus robur Fastigiata, with a columnar habit, and the Quercus bicolour. The tree will eventually reach a height of 10 to 12 m (33 to 39ft) with a spread of 3 to 4 m (10 to 13ft). The growth of this oak is moderately fast. Its habit is naturally erect and fastigiate, with branches directed towards the sky. The trunk is short and covered with initially green and smooth bark, which then becomes gray and peels off in thin flakes. The branching is low, forming a semi-open crown. The foliage, late deciduous, consists of alternate leaves, measuring 5 to 12 cm (2 to 5in) long and 3 to 6 cm (1 to 2in) wide. Each leaf has 5 to 7 pairs of lobes. The colour of the lamina is initially an acidic green, becoming darker with increasing light intensity, with the lower surface being paler. The leaves take on bronze, orange, brown, golden, and beige hues, quite late in autumn. They twist "torch-like" when drying and remain attached to the branches for a long time before falling. The flowering of this oak, greenish in colour, occurs in April-May, shortly after the appearance of the foliage, on the annual shoots. The root system of this tree is deep and powerful, with both a taproot and extensive lateral spread, ensuring a solid and long-lasting anchorage in deep soils.

The Windcandle oak, as a structural tree, will become one of the main features of a natural or even contemporary garden. Its compact size allows oak enthusiasts to accommodate it in a medium-sized garden. It can be planted individually, in alignment, or as part of a grove. It also remains decorative for a large part of the winter and produces abundant leaf litter, which is beneficial for the growth of certain plants. Its fruits, sometimes produced in abundance, provide food for small animals such as squirrels and jays.