Other Names:  Ware's Oak, Hybrid Oak

Description:

A perfect selection for narrow spaces; glossy, dark green foliage produces warm tones of red, orange and yellow in fall; strong branching and a high resistance to mildew and drought

Ornamental Features

Birthday Candle Oak is primarily valued in the landscape for its rigidly columnar form. It has attractive dark green foliage with silver undersides. The large lobed leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding orange in the fall. However, the fruit can be messy in the landscape and may require occasional clean-up.

Landscape Attributes

Birthday Candle Oak is a dense deciduous tree with a strong central leader and a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It is a good choice for attracting squirrels to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy

Birthday Candle Oak is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Birthday Candle Oak will grow to be about 45 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 150 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.