Quercus myrsinifolia (18/02/2012/ Kew, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 12m
Eventual Spread: 10m
Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11
Family: Fagaceae
Quercus myrsinifolia is a small, rounded, evergreen tree, occasionally multi stemmed. Its leathery, hairless leaves are narrow, lanceolate, up to 12cm long, dark green above and slightly glaucous beneath. The newly emerged leaves are purple/ bronze in colour. The bark is dark, pinkish grey, smooth, occasionally with thin orange furrows. The flowers are pistillate flowers on young shoots, with 2 to 6 being borne on a slender peduncle. The fruit is an acorn, up to 2cm long and 1.5cm wide, being borne in clusters of 2 to 6 on a long peduncle.
Quercus myrsinifolia Leaf (18/02/2012/ Kew, London)
Quercus myrsinifolia, commonly known as the Bamboo leaf Oak, Chinese Evergreen Oak, and Chinese Ring Cupped Oak, is native to east and central southeast China, Japan, Korea, and north south east Asia.
The etymological root of the binomial name Quercus is the Latin name for an Oak tree, sometimes authorities derive the word from Celtic, ‘quer’ meaning fine, and ‘cuez’ a tree. Myrsinifolia is derived from the name of the Myrsine genus and the Latin folium ‘leaf’.
The landscape architect may find Quercus myrsinifolia useful as an attractive small evergreen specimen tree. This tree is not liked by rabbits and deer.
Quercus myrsinifolia Bark (30/11/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Quercus myrsinifolia does not provide much ecological benefit for wildlife in the UK.
Quercus myrsinifolia prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Quercus myrsinifolia requires little maintenance.
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