(Incorrectly Quercus x hispanica ‘Dentata’)

This is one of the largest evergreen oaks in Belfast Botanic Gardens, and it has an attractive spreading shape. It is located close to the main path leading into the gardens from the Malone/Stranmillis gate. The Q. x crenata oaks are hybrids between the cork oak (Quercus suber) and the Turkey oak Quercus cerris. They occur naturally in Spain where the distributions of the two parent species overlap. There are a number of x crenata varieties in the horticultural trade including the Lucombe oak (Q. x crenata ‘Lucombeana’ ) and this one (from Osborne’s nursery in Fulham). It is semi-evergreen, losing some of its leaves in winter. The leaves are a dark very glossy green and the small acorns are rather like those of the Turkey oak.

Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens in 2009. Nomenclature updated 2023 to bring it into line with ‘Plants of the World Online’. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens.