{"id":611966746950,"date":"2025-10-16T16:41:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T16:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/uncategorized\/your-guide-to-oak-trees-facts-types-essential-information\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T08:41:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T08:41:41","slug":"your-guide-to-oak-trees-facts-types-essential-information","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/trees\/your-guide-to-oak-trees-facts-types-essential-information\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Guide to Oak Trees: Facts, Types & Essential Information"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no exaggeration to describe oak trees as the national tree of Great Britain. They have been integral to our countryside for centuries, so naturally, many people are interested in growing oak trees for themselves.<\/p>

\"Mature
Mature English Oak Tree (Quercus robur)<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Planting an oak tree is one of the most altruistic things a gardener can do. These slow-growing giants take a few years to get going, but the rewards are great when they do. Not only do oaks make handsome specimen trees \u2013 perfect for marking special occasions or national events \u2013 they are powerful magnets for wildlife.<\/p>

This article will focus on some of the UK’s most widely grown oak tree species and answer some commonly asked questions about oak trees.<\/p>

What does an oak tree symbolise?<\/h2>

Oak trees are steeped in symbolism and mythology. They symbolise longevity, strength, fertility and power. And in ancient mythology, the oak was sacred to the \u2018top gods\u2019, Zeus, Jupiter and the Norse god of Thunder, Thor.<\/p>

Oak trees are also associated with King Charles II, who famously escaped with his life by hiding in an oak tree after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. King Charles II\u2019s connections to the oak tree are not only remembered by numerous pubs called \u2018The Royal Oak\u2019 but also by \u2018Oak Apple Day\u2019, celebrated every 29 May to commemorate the Merry Monarch\u2019s restoration in 1660.<\/p>

How quickly do oak trees grow on average?<\/h2>

The Common or English Oak tree grows to around 65-130 feet tall (20-40 metres). And it only starts fruiting (producing acorns) after about 40 years. After the first few decades, their growth slows and, on average, an oak tree will grow by 50 centimetres yearly.<\/p>

How long do oak trees live on average?<\/h2>

On average, oaks live for up to 600 years (traditionally taking \u2018200 years to grow, 200 years to live and 200 years to die\u2019). However, they can survive for 1000 of years. Oak trees are classified as \u2018veterans\u2019 at 150 to 300 years old. \u2018Ancient\u2019 oak trees are those aged 400 years and over.<\/p>

Notable examples include the Bowthorpe Oak in Lincolnshire and the Big Belly Oak in Wiltshire\u2019s Savernake Forest, which are over 1000 years old.<\/p>

What does the oak leaf look like?<\/h2>
\"English
Common English Oak Leaf in Spring<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Although there are variations between species, oak tree leaves are easy to identify by their shape. A common oak leaf measures around 10 centimetres long, with 4 or 5 lobes along each side.<\/p>

These lobed leaves are a bright, almost acidic green when they open in mid-May. They become a darker shade throughout the summer before turning reddish brown in autumn. Once you start looking at individual trees in detail, identifying different types of oak trees by their leaves is hugely satisfying!<\/p>

What are the different types of oak trees?<\/h2>

There are two native oak tree types in the UK, Quercus robur and Q. petraea. Still, many more oak types are distributed across the northern hemisphere, from the Mediterranean to Asia and the Americas.<\/p>

Although North America has 90 different species of oak, Mexico can claim to have the greatest diversity of oaks in the world, with an astonishing 160 native species.
The genus Quercus is a part of the Fagaceae (beech) family and includes deciduous and evergreen oaks.<\/p>

Here are some varieties of native and non-native oak trees that grow in the UK.<\/p>

1. Quercus robur (the Common or English Oak)<\/h3>
\"Common
Common English Oak Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>

As its name suggests, this is the most common type of oak tree in the UK. The native English oak (sometimes known as Quercus pendunculata) is prized for its strong, weatherproof timber.<\/p>

Other parts of the trees are also valued. The bark can be used for tanning leather, and pork from acorn-fed pigs is a delicacy. Oak trees are also havens of biodiversity. A single oak tree is capable of supporting some 2300 wildlife species, 300 of which are specific to oak trees alone.<\/p>

Browse our selection of English Oak bareroot saplings<\/a> and standard English Oak trees<\/a> (bareroot or potted).<\/p>

2. Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)<\/h3>
\"Sessile
Sessile Oak Tree (Quercus petraea)<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Sessile Oak is a native tree similar to the Common Oak but can tolerate higher altitudes and wet sites. Sessile Oaks grow to around 30 metres tall and have straighter trunks and a less spreading canopy than Common Oaks.<\/p>

An easy way to tell these varieties apart is to look at their leaves:<\/p>