Italian Oak is native to Europe and can reach 100 ft tall in its native habitat. It is erect with a high, oval canopy and has large, attractive, deeply lobed leaves. It grows in heavy acidic soils and is native to the mountainous regions of the Balkans. It will tolerate most soils as long as they are well-drained and acidic. This tree is cultivated in parks and large gardens in Europe. it can be difficult to find for sale in the USA. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth ( Eacles imperialis ) , as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak ( Satyrium calanus ) , Edward's hairstreak ( Satyrium edwardsii ) , Gray hairstreak ( Strymon melinus ) , White-m hairstreak ( Parrhasius malbum ) , Horace's duskywing ( Erynnis horatius ) , and Juvenalis duskywing ( Erynnis juvenalis ) . Susceptible to Beetle Borers, Caterpillars, Insect Galls and Scales, Armillaria, Crown Rot, Mistletoe and Root Rot.
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 texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
more than 60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Oval
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed; Sinuate
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
6-10 inch long leaves have 7-10 deep parallel lobes. The color is dark green above and pale yellow-green underneath with minute russet hairs. Fall color is an attractive russet.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
Separate male and female flowers on the same tree. Pollen flowers in drooping, elongated clusters
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1.25 inch long light brown acorns are borne in groups of 2-5. The rough, scaly, hairy cups enclose 1/3 or more of the nut.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is first gray and smooth, later brown and fissured.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
The twigs are stout and covered with russet upward pointed hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
SE Europe and Turkey
Wildlife value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Mildly resistant to deer. Attracts birds and mammals for the acorns.