Hungarian oak

Hungarian oak: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Broad, rounded crown on a short, thick trunk; up to 25 m tall and about 15 m wide.

Leaves

Obovate, 10–20 cm long, with 6–9 pairs of deep, rounded lobes; dark green above, finely grey-downy beneath.

Flowers

Yellowish, hanging catkins in May, along with the leaves. Wind-pollinated.

Fruit

Acorns 2–3 cm long in a cup with pointed scales; they ripen in one year, in September–October.

Bark

Grey and deeply furrowed on older trees.

Flowering: May · Plants: March–April and October–December · Pruning: December–February

Why grow it?

• Remarkably large, deeply lobed leaves that form a dense, elegant crown.
• Grows fast for an oak and becomes an imposing shade tree.
• Tolerates drought and chalky soil, even where other oaks struggle.
• The acorns feed birds and small mammals, and the crown is home to insects.
• As a specimen or in an avenue, a showpiece that will last for generations.

Hungarian oak: where does it grow best?

• Full sun: it likes warm, sunny places.
• Sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky. Lime is not a problem.
• Dry to moderately moist. Once established it is very drought-tolerant, but it avoids soil that is wet for long periods.
• Allow 12–15 m of space, away from buildings, pipes and boundaries.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

25 m tall, 15 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Crocus: Naturalises in the grass under the tree and flowers in February–March before the leaves appear.
• Wild daffodil: A bulb that naturalises beautifully under deciduous trees.
• Bigroot cranesbill: Ground cover that tolerates the dry shade under the crown.
• Holly: Evergreen understorey that gives a green backdrop in winter.
• Male fern: A tough fern for dry shade.

Hungarian oak: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and October–December.

1. Plant in March–April or from October to December, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Choose a young tree of 2–3 m: oaks have a long taproot and establish best when young.
3. Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball, but no deeper. Loosen the sides.
4. Plant at the same depth as in the nursery and backfill with the soil you dug out, without fresh manure. For a standard tree, add a stake and tie loosely.
5. Water in at once with 20–30 litres.
6. Spread a mulch ring about 1 m wide of wood chips or leaf mould, keeping it clear of the trunk. In an avenue, plant 12–15 m apart.

Care

Water

For the first 2–3 summers give 20–30 litres a week in dry spells, deeply and not too often. After that it usually looks after itself, even in dry summers.

Feeding

Not needed.

Mulching

A layer of mulch keeps the soil around the base of young trees moist. Keep the circle free of grass: grass competes for water.

Support

For a standard tree, a stake for 2–3 years; remove it afterwards so the trunk grows strong.

Autumn leaves

The large leaves rot down slowly. Leave them under shrubs or make leaf mould.

Tip: Give it room: as a specimen it needs 12–15 m, and in an avenue you plant it at the same spacing. It grows best in a warm, sunny spot with free-draining soil.

Hungarian oak: when to prune it?

Pruning months: December–February.

When: Only when needed, during dormancy from December to February, in dry, frost-free weather.

How:

• In the early years, build up a single leader and a balanced crown: remove competing tops and crossing branches.
• Take out dead or broken branches; cut just outside the branch collar, never into the collar itself.
• For thick branches and large trees, call in a tree surgeon.

Caution: Avoid pruning an oak in spring or summer: fresh wounds are more prone to infection then.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow fresh acorns in October–November where they are to grow or in deep pots, as the taproot soon gets long. They germinate in spring. Acorns dry out quickly: do not store them. Seedlings can differ from the parent tree.

Grafting

Special selections are grafted by nurseries. This is not a job for the gardener.

Hungarian oak: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Hardy to about −25 °C: no problem in Belgian winters.
• On young trees, a layer of mulch protects the roots during hard frosts.
• Protect the trunk of young trees from game, rabbits and the mower with a tree guard.

Diseases and pests

• Oak processionary moth: Nests of hairy caterpillars on the trunk and branches from May to July. The stinging hairs can cause severe skin irritation. Do not touch the nests and have them removed by an approved contractor or the council. Blue tits help: put up nest boxes.
• Caterpillar defoliation: In May, caterpillars can strip the young leaves. The tree usually leafs out again. A healthy tree needs no treatment: help it with water in a dry summer.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on young leaves, especially in late summer. Usually harmless on a mature tree; clear fallen leaves and avoid nitrogen-rich fertiliser.
• Drought stress: Limp or yellowing leaves and early leaf fall on young trees in a dry summer. Water deeply for the first few years and keep the mulch in place.

Through the year

• January: Remove dead branches in dry, frost-free weather.
• February: Last chance to prune. Check stakes and ties.
• March: Plant once the soil has thawed and is not too wet. Water in well.
• April: Plant. Mulch. The tree comes into leaf.
• May: Yellow catkins. Watch for processionary moth nests and caterpillar damage.
• June: Water young trees in dry weather. Have processionary nests removed.
• July: Water young trees deeply in dry weather.
• August: Water young trees deeply in dry weather.
• October: Acorns fall; sow fresh acorns. Yellow-brown autumn colour. Planting can start again.
• November: Plant. Collect fallen leaves for leaf mould.
• December: Plant. Pruning of dead branches possible.

Good for wildlife

Birds

Berries, seeds or insects as food, or a place to nest.

Did you know?

• The species name frainetto comes from farnetto, the Italian name for this tree.
• The leaves reach about 20 cm in length, much larger than those of the English oak.
• Its acorns ripen in the first year, unlike the scarlet oak, where it takes two years.