Smithsonian Gardens

Common name: Bamboo Leaf Oak, Chinese Evergreen Oak

Family: Fagaceae (Beech)

Distribution: C and S Japan, Korea (Jin-do), C and S China to Indo-China

Habitat: Lime-free soils, 200-250 meters

Hardiness: 0 - 30 F

Life form: Evergreen tree

Bloom characteristics: 2-6 female flowers grow on a thin stalk on young shoots. Male flowers appear in early summer.

Structure: Round

Average height: 30-50'

Bark characteristics: Pink-gray, smooth bark with thin orange furrows.

Bloom Time: Early summer

Fruit characteristics: Acorns grow 2-4 together with a cup that covers a third to half of the acorn. Cap has 3-6 rings. .5-1" long.

Foliage characteristics: Alternate, simple, lanceolate to elliptic, leathery leaves with a serrated margin. 2-5" long.

Description: Chinese evergreen oak is one of the ring-cupped oaks of eastern and southeastern Asia. As the name suggests, ring-cupped oaks have distinctive, concentric rings on their acorn cups.