Oak
Quercus robur
Botanical family: Fagaceae
Quercus robur (pedunculate oak) and Q. petraea (sessile oak), majestic, slow-growing Fagaceae, often dominant in woodland. Their taproot goes deep, and they feed a considerable insect fauna. Source: Plants For A Future, “Quercus robur” and “Quercus petraea”.
Full sun (sun-loving once mature)
Deep, cool; adapts to most soils depending on the species
Self-sufficient once established
Very hardy
Overwinters in your zone
Wind-pollinated (catkins, spring flowering)
Role in permaculture
The world-tree of French forests: a single oak hosts hundreds of species of insects, birds, fungi, and lichens, an ecosystem in itself. A mycorrhizal partner of the truffle and host of many fungi, it feeds wildlife with its acorns (and humans, once detannised), and its ramial wood (RCW) as well as its litter enrich the soil. The living framework of a forest garden, to be thought of on the scale of generations.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Seasons & availability
Acorns gathered in autumn, from September to November, to be soaked at length before any use; the astringent bark is taken from young branches.
Available: September, October, November.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- Plants For A Future, « Quercus robur » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Quercus+robur)
- Woodland Trust, « Oak, English (Quercus robur) » (woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/english-oak)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
Do not eat acorns raw (indigestible tannins, even toxic in quantity, as they are for livestock); the medicinal use of the bark remains occasional and external.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Species
Before you forage
This plant is often gathered from the wild. Only pick what is abundant, never a protected species, and never uproot a whole plant (roots) without the landowner's permission. Rules vary by country and region, check locally.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun (sun-loving once mature) exposure.
- • Ideal soil: deep, cool; adapts to most soils depending on the species.