Quercus myrsinaefolia

Common Names

Chinese Evergreen Oak, Bamboo-Leaf Oak, Shira-Kashi, Chinese Ring Cupped Oak, Xiao Ye Qing Gang

Summary

Chinese evergreen oak is native to South China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is an evergreen oak of medium size with a rounded, often multi-trunk habit and slow growth, distinguished by bamboo-like leaves up to 12 cm long that are leathery and glossy, new growth purple-bronze, smooth bark, and ring-cupped acorns borne in clusters of 2–8.

It prefers lime-free, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade and occurs at elevations of 200–2500 m; hardy to USDA zone 7, it tolerates drought and wind once established and is commonly used as a street tree, tall hedge, or container plant in landscape settings; propagation is by seed sown promptly with transplant to a permanent position within 2 seasons, and seeds are edible when cooked while leaves can be used as mulch.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

30-50 ft

Spread

33 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7a-9b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Lime-free, fertile, well-drained loam soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils; lime-tolerant; tolerates most soil pH, including lime-free (non-calcareous) soils

Bloom Color

Golden

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Dark green on the upper surface; paler green beneath.

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

All four seasons

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Rooted cuttings, Air layering, Grafting

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds