Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree Archive

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This is one of a series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens compiled by the Friends group. The tree tag number relates to the BCC black tree maintenance tags, usually fixed on the tree trunk, 2 to 3m above ground level.
Family: Fagaceae
Quercus rysophylla Weath.
Mexican oak or loquat oak

Black tag 117
54o 34.949N
5o 56.068W

This is an evergreen oak from Mexico, first described in 1910. It is rare in cultivation, introduced to horticulture, by Sir Harold Hillier from the Horsetail Falls above Monterrey in Mexico, as late as 1979. Its most distinctive feature is the bright reddish young leaves in spring. The mature leaves are a bright glossy green. It seems to be quite fast growing, but its final height in Ireland is not yet known.

The Belfast Botanic Gardens specimen is planted close to the Ulster Museum as shown below. Other specimens are planted in the Hillier Gardens and Kew Gardens.

Quercus rysophylla Belfast Botanic Gardens

Quercus rysophylla leaves
Quercus rysophylla in Belfast Botanic Gardens - mid summer Quercus rysophylla summer foliage

Quercus rysophylla spring leaves

Quercus rysophylla new growth
Quercus rysophylla, red leaves produced in spring Quercus rysophylla spring growth

Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens in 2011. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens.

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