Portuguese Oak

Portuguese Oak (Quercus lusitanica) is an evergreen oak grown as a hedge rather than a tree. It holds small, firm, dark leaves on a compact frame of about 3m tall and 2.5m wide, and it clips into a formal wall that stays green through winter. For gardeners who want the weight and permanence of an oak in a space that cannot take one, this is the answer.

Why you'll love it

• An oak that fits a suburban block. At 3m by 2.5m it works as a hedge or a single specimen where a true oak would be absurd.
• Evergreen, so the screen never drops. Unlike deciduous oaks it holds its leaves, and privacy stays intact through winter.
• Genuinely hardy. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, wind and salt tolerant, and content in poor soil once it is away.
• Takes clipping well. The small leaf and dense branching give a clean face, so it shapes into hedges, cubes and standards.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 60cm apart in a single row. It is a slow grower, so buy the largest size your budget allows if you want a screen within a few seasons rather than many.

Topiary and shaping. Single plants clip into formal shapes that hold their outline for months between trims, which suits low maintenance formal gardens.

Feature planting. A matched pair either side of an entry, or a single clipped specimen in a courtyard, gives structure that does not change with the seasons.

Growing Portuguese Oak in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest growth. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is properly frost hardy, which makes it a rare evergreen hedge option for cold districts. Tropical and humid subtropical gardens are too warm and wet for it.

Soil. Free draining is the main requirement, and it tolerates poor, rocky and alkaline ground. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound. Mulch 75mm deep, kept off the stems.

Water and feed. Deep weekly soaks through the first two summers while the root system builds, then it needs very little. A general purpose fertiliser in early spring is sufficient.

Pruning. Trim in late spring after the new flush hardens, and again in late summer if needed. Because growth is slow, take a little at a time rather than cutting hard.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 400mm, 45L and 1000L. The 45L and 400mm plants are the practical hedging sizes and arrive as bushy, well branched shrubs. The 1000L is a single mature specimen for an instant result, and it needs machinery on site to place.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Be patient after planting: this species establishes steadily rather than quickly, and the first year is mostly root growth. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to plant and maintain a sharp hedge
• Compare the best hedging plants
• Browse frost hardy plants
• Plants that suit topiary and shaping

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Slowly, and that is the trade off for a hedge that stays neat with minimal trimming. Expect a hedge from 45L stock to close over roughly three to four seasons with regular water and feeding.

How far apart should I plant it?

Sixty centimetres apart in a single row for a dense hedge. Given the slow growth rate, resist the urge to plant closer, since crowded roots make the row uneven.

Does it lose its leaves in winter?

No. This is an evergreen oak, so the screen holds through winter. Old leaves shed gradually through the year rather than all at once.

Is the naming reliable?

Oak naming varies in the Australian trade, and plants sold under this name are consistently the compact evergreen hedging form described here. Buy on the size and habit rather than the label alone.