How do you recognise English oak (Quercus robur)?

Leaf

Krzysztof Golik, WIkimedia · CC BY-SA 2.0

English oak

Quercus robur L.

Also known as: Pedunculate oak, Common oak, European oak

Family: Fagaceae

25 to 35 m tall, sometimes more

Lowland forests, deep, moist soils

Flowering: April – May

Part shade

Full sun

-28°C

❓ How do you recognise this plant?

The peduncle carries the acorns, unlike in the sessile oak. Pedunculate oak bears its acorns on a long peduncle but has leaves almost without petiole; in sessile oak it is the reverse — the acorns sit directly on the twig, without a peduncle, while the leaves have a real petiole.

🍃 Leaves

Rounded lobes, auricled base, almost without petiole

🌸 Flowers

Inconspicuous catkins

🍎 Fruits

Acorns borne on a long peduncle

🪵 Bark

Grey, thick, deeply fissured with age

🗺️ Distribution

Europe, as far as the Caucasus; one of the most common oaks in France, in lowlands and on deep soils

🐝 Value for pollinators

Male catkins producing abundant pollen in spring, foliage hosting very many caterpillar species

✂️ Horticultural uses

Planted as a specimen in large parks, in avenues or in forests for its quality timber

⚠️ Possible toxicity

Acorns rich in tannins, toxic to many domestic animals (horses, cattle) in large quantity; harmless on contact. Do not present the acorn as a safe food without suitable preparation.

⚠️ Look-alike species

English oak

Quercus robur

Sessile oak

Quercus petraea

Pedunculate oak bears its acorns on a long peduncle but has leaves almost without petiole; in sessile oak it is the reverse — the acorns sit directly on the twig, without a peduncle, while the leaves have a real petiole.

See the full comparison →

🌿 Other Fagaceae to discover

ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.

🌱 This database is constantly evolving — species and information are added and corrected regularly. Spotted a mistake? Report it below.