The Henry Tanbark Oak is a flowering evergreen tree in the oak family and native to China. It is a relatively large, multi-trunked, tree reaching about 65 feet high at maturity. The crown is oval or rounded and the branches are smooth except for current year growth that has a thin, downy purpleish covering.The tree produces white, upright spikes of flowers in spring and acorns in the fall. This oak tree prefers partial shade for best growth. It should make a good urban specimen as it is heat and drought tolerant. It's rather tropical in appearance. It is a hardy tree with a slow growth rate and thrives in cooler, moist environments. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Mature size
Height: 25 ft. 0 in. - 65 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-trunked; Open; Oval; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Narrowly oblong green leaf blades, 8 inches long and 2 inches wide, are leathery and grayish when dry. The leaves are tapered at both ends, pale green and shining.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Solitary
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
Solitary male flowers bloom in leaf axils. Female flowers are larger, up to 6 inches. Neither type of flower is showy.
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit detail
Acorns are closely packed in clusters on a 4 to 8 inch spike.
Stem detail
Branchlets of the current year are purplish brown.