Sawtooth 'Gobbler' Oak - 'Quercus acutissima' Sawtooth 'Gobbler' Oak is a native tree to Japan, Korea, China, and The Himalayas. The Sawtooth Oak was introduced into European cultivation in 1862 by Englishman Richard Oldham. It is said that in Japan, silkworms were at one time fed on its leaves. The Sawtooth Oak is one of the heaviest producing acorn oaks for wildlife. Its abundant acorn production attracts deer and turkey to the extent that seed collection is often a challenge due to the competition from the wildlife. It is a deciduous tree and is excellent for erosion management. It has no serious disease or insect problems and has yellowish fall leaf color. During the summer, leaves remain lustrous and dark green. The bark of the tree is dull grey-brown, smooth at first, becoming vertically and deeply fissured in maturity. It makes an excellent reforestation and timber tree and is known to live for centuries under the right conditions. With this in mind, Sawtooth Oak make perfect candidates for reforestation programs such as the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and programs sponsored by the EPA.
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| Common Name: | Sawtooth Oak |
| Popular Varieties: | Gobbler |
| Type: |
Deciduous Shade Tree |
| Family: |
Fagaceae |
| Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun |
| Leaves: |
Leaves are dark lustrous green in summer; often a good clear yellow to golden brown fall color, developing late, often in November; leaves open a brilliant yellow to golden yellow in spring. Leaves are alternate, simple, 4 to 8 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. Leaves are acute, broad-cuneate or rounded at base, serrate with bristle-like teeth terminating the 12 to 16 parallel veins. |
| Size: |
35 to 45 feet in height. |
| Hardiness: |
Zone 5 to 6 to 9. For an idea of your plant zone please visit the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. |
| Habit: |
Sawtooth Oak is dense, broad pyramidal in youth; varying in old age from oval-rounded to broad-rounded with low-slung, wide-spreading branches. |
| Rate: |
Initially medium to fast. |
| Flowers: |
Male, in 3 to 4 inch long slender golden catkins in late March-early April with the emerging leaves. |
| Diseases & Insects: |
None serious. |
| Landscape Value: |
Nice, wide spreading, clean foliaged shade or lawn tree; could be used more than it is especially in south where it is fast growing; hardiness reports are somewhat conflicting; in spring the tree is covered with pendent, golden male catkins which are quite attractive; old leaves will persist throughout the winter; it also fruits heavily in the south showing an alternate year bearing tendency. |
| Soil Preference: |
Prefers acid, well-drained soils but appears quite adaptable; may develop chlorosis in high pH soils; thrives in the heat of the south. |
| Care: |
Prune in winter and water transplants thoroughly and often. |
| Fertilization: |
Fertilize an area three times the canopy spread of the tree 1 to 2 times a year with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Only fertilize an established tree.
| | Planting Instructions: |
Dig a hole three times the diameter of the root system, with a depth no deeper than the original soil line on trunk. Break up the soil to the finest consistency possible. Place plant in hole and fill, compacting the fill dirt. Water the plant heavily to seal soil around the roots and remove air pockets. Water well, and remember to water regularly until they have started to grow.
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