Gall oak (Quercus canariensis)

Image - Wikimedia / Nanosanchez

El Quercus canariensis It is an imposing tree that can exceed 20 meters in height as long as the conditions are right, and although its growth is rather slow, it is one of those species that stands out for its beauty since they are young.

As if that were not enough, it is not harmed by low temperatures, but if the climate is mild, its leaves remain on the tree for more than a year before falling next autumn. Learn more.

Origin and characteristics

Image - Wikimedia / Canley

Our protagonist is a tree native to North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. In the past it is likely that it lived in the Canary Islands, but for reasons that are unknown today, it disappeared from the archipelago. It is known by the common names of gall oak, Andalusian gall oak, and Andalusian oak, and by the scientist Quercus canariensis.

It grows to a height of 30 meters, with a straight and robust trunk, and a grayish-brown bark, with shallow cracks in the older specimens. The leaves are somewhat leathery, 6 to 18cm long and elliptical or elongated. The flowers are yellow hanging catkins, and the fruit is a domed acorn with slightly uneven scales.

What are their cares?

Image - Wikimedia / Javier martin

If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

• Location: it must be outside, in full sun or in semi-shade.
• Earth:
  • Garden: grows in deep, cool soils. The limestone is afraid.
  • Pot: advisable to use growing substrate for acidic plants, or akadama mixed with 30% kiryuzuna.
• Irrigation: about 4 times a week in summer, and about 2 / week the rest of the year.
• Subscriber: from early spring to late summer with natural fertilizers.
• Pruning: you don't need it.
• Multiplication: by seeds in winter (they need to be cold before germinating).
• Rusticity: resistant up to -12ºC.

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