Turkey Oak

Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris) is the oak for gardeners who do not want to wait a lifetime. It is the quickest of the European oaks to build a canopy, reaching roughly 12m tall and 8m wide in an Australian garden over ten to fifteen years, with deeply cut dark green leaves that turn golden brown in autumn. Once its roots are down it handles drought, wind and poor soil without complaint.

Why you'll love it

• Oak character, sooner. Most oaks are a project for the next generation; this one gives a genuine shade tree within a decade.
• Serious shade. An 8m canopy of dense summer foliage cools a lawn or a house wall as no small tree can.
• Tough once established. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, wind tolerant and untroubled by poor soil, so exposed rural and outer suburban blocks suit it.
• Autumn colour and winter light. The leaves turn golden brown and russet, then drop to let winter sun through to the house.

Where it works best

Shade tree on a big block. Give it 8m to 10m of clear space and at least 6m from the house, so the mature canopy never needs cutting back to fit.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees 10m apart along a drive. That lets each crown develop its natural rounded shape rather than growing into its neighbour.

Feature and parkland planting. A single specimen in lawn is the classic use, and it suits acreage, schools and larger country gardens.

Growing Turkey Oak in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. It belongs in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is thoroughly frost hardy. It is not a tree for the wet tropics.

Soil. Deep soil is preferred, but it accepts sand, clay loam and poor ground as long as water drains away. Prepare a generous bed at planting and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers so roots go down rather than sideways. After that it is drought tolerant and rarely needs watering. Feed once each early spring for the first few years, then leave it alone.

Pruning. Keep it to a single leader while young and remove any competing double leader in the first three winters. A mature oak then needs nothing beyond dead wood removal.

What to expect when it arrives

We stock it in 400mm pots and in 45L, 100L and 200L containers. The 400mm size is a young whip, the value option if you are planting several and can wait. The 45L and larger trees arrive with a straight formed trunk and a head of branches, which is what a matched driveway planting needs.

It is deciduous, so a winter delivery arrives as bare branches, which is normal rather than a fault. New leaves appear in spring and growth accelerates once the roots take hold in the second year. Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing a canopy tree for real shade.
• Compare the range in our deciduous tree collection.
• See other fast growing shade trees.
• Browse advanced trees for instant height.

Common questions

How big will it actually get here?

Around 12m tall and 8m wide over ten to fifteen years. European specimens exceed 30m over centuries, but Australian garden trees rarely approach that.

How close can I plant it to the house?

Six metres is a sensible minimum, and further is better on reactive clay soils. The canopy alone spreads to 8m, so anything closer means pruning against its natural shape.

Is it safe around pets?

No. Acorns and oak foliage are toxic to dogs, cats and livestock if eaten, so avoid it where a dog chews everything or stock have access.

Does it colour well in a mild climate?

Expect golden brown and russet rather than the scarlet of a maple, and a shorter display in warm temperate gardens. Cold autumn nights give the best result.