Cork Oak dormancy??

I live in St. Louis, MO Zone 6a and am wondering, what are the dormancy requirements for a Cork Bark Oak? I think they are temperate trees, therefore needing some protection in my zone , but how much protection should I give them here?

I have an attached unheated garage, a greenhouse, an indoor tropical set up and, of course, I could heal them in to the ground.

Any and all replies appreciated.

Thanks

These trees are from S. Europe and N. Africa. They are warm temperate or Mediterranean trees. USDA zone 7 is the coldest they will take in the ground. Pots may mean zone 8 or even a bit warmer, depending on the tree itself.

I'd give it a lot of protection in zone 6, and would not allow the roots to freeze. It is an evergreen, so its "dormancy" is somewhat limited.

JimLewis wrote:These trees are from S. Europe and N. Africa. They are warm temperate or Mediterranean trees. USDA zone 7 is the coldest they will take in the ground. Pots may mean zone 8 or even a bit warmer, depending on the tree itself.

I'd give it a lot of protection in zone 6, and would not allow the roots to freeze. It is an evergreen, so its "dormancy" is somewhat limited.

Thanks Jim

Would the treatment be similar to Chinese elm, meaning they need dormancy, but not that much?

I generally put my Chinese elms in the garage around late October, early November, then bring them indoors to the tropical set up about January 1.

Do you think that would work with these oaks?

I also have some seedling Live Oaks from Florida, Quercus Viginiana I believe. Would the dormancy requirements for these be the same, or should I treat those as tropical?

Thanks in advance for your knowledge

Someone from Europe who grows cork bark oaks will have to answer those questions. I've never grown one.

Do NOT treat the coast live oak (Quercus virginiana) as a tropical. Bury them in a tub of mulch, then put them in an unheated space somewhere. They can use a little light, because they are evergreen. If they dump all of their leaves over a couple of days in early spring, that is normal.

The eastern live oaks are among the most difficult trees to bonsai.

Thanks for the information regarding the Live Oaks Jim.

I'll wait to hear from those in Europe to advise of the length of dormancy for those Cork Oaks

Take care

just quickly..
Quercus Virginiana "fusiformis" the Texas Live oak is generally hardier than the gulf Live oak and thus a bit easier to deal with.
Oaks are a holy grail for me...
Oak Bonsai in general are tricky, Its something to aspire too.

but I had no idea the cork barks were so tender. I'm curious to se where this thread leads.

The USDA appears to feel the Texas tree no longer is a variety of Q. virginiana (but other sites) are more ambivalent.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=QUFU

Yes they definitely treat it as its own individual species but also seem to list it as a synonym of Q. Virginiana. Either way its on "MY LIST"
I'd be willing to give it a go, My wife is from New Orleans and has told me ,even just last night, how her favorite tree is the Live Oak. I would call that permission.

According to the Plant List, Quercus fusiformis is a separate species.
The word synonym in taxonomy does not have the same meaning as in Roget's Thesaurus. A synonym is a name the plant was once called, or a name somebody published, but it is NOT the correct name. Ignore it.
Iris

drgonzo wrote:...I'd be willing to give it a go, My wife is from New Orleans and has told me ,even just last night, how her favorite tree is the Live Oak. I would call that permission.

I wouldn't call that permission...I'd call it a hint! Either way, it works out well for you!

bonsaisr wrote:According to the Plant List, Quercus fusiformis is a separate species.
The word synonym in taxonomy does not have the same meaning as in Roget's Thesaurus. A synonym is a name the plant was once called, or a name somebody published, but it is NOT the correct name. Ignore it.
Iris

I am ever learning!
thank you iris

Thank you all for the very helpful information, but...................Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to overwinter these Cork Oaks??

I've had one in my tropical overwintering set up for about a week and it is budding with new foliage. Do you think this is just a flash in the pan??

i 'd keep it in the unheated greenhouse and keep on the dry side , if its warm it will keep growing all year.

tim stubbs wrote:i 'd keep it in the unheated greenhouse and keep on the dry side , if its warm it will keep growing all year.

Thanks for the input Tim.

So, in your experience, they need very little, if any, period of dormancy, right?

i m in a similar zone to you and just let them get on with it , as long as its not too wet they will survive quite low temperatures

Although their range is southern Europe, they grow over the Pyrenees mountains and suffer very cold conditions. I have one in a large container on my patio that has stood outside for 5 or 6 Winters with no ill effects. Picture of a stand of Cork Oaks in the Spanish mountains on our recent family holiday