PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH
continued from page 23 Interestingly enough, it is the same blockage of old xylem tissue that makes White Oaks so popular for wine and whisky barrels. In fact, while Quercus alba (White Oak) is the Oak of preference in the United States, Quercus petraea is the most common in many parts of Europe. The common name of “Durmast Oak” has a number of references to where it may have arisen with perhaps the most plausible, Latin root “dur” meaning hard or strong and “mast” and Old English term for a tall straight tree (think mast of a ship). Along with being a very dense wood, Durmast Oak is also very strong with a slight flex to it, making it an ideal lumber for construction of buildings and ships as well as durable furniture. Just like ancestors of North America had many traditions, rituals, and life sustaining practices that revolved around local Oak species, we find similar traditions in Europe.
as the width at maturity. Expect – like most columnar plants – a much skinnier than tall plant, when young. Much like humans, most columnar plants get a little wider around the midsection as they age!
There is a columnar cultivar of Sessile Oak which is, in our opinion, better than some of the older columnar English Oaks. It is much less susceptible to the powdery mildew on the leaves that is so common to the English Oaks. The size of Q. petraea ‘Columna’ is around 40 feet tall and 15 feet wide (perhaps more with great age) but maintains close to slightly double the height
Jim Funai is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited
24 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
While English Oak tends to exist on slightly denser, wetter, lowland soils, Sessile Oak is found more often on slopes and well drained soils. Both tend to be pretty adaptable. People tout both English and Sessile for similar reasons; primarily because they are fairly forgiving to conditions, expect the problems of powdery mildew common on the English. We hope you find a great place to try this tree out soon, and let us know what you think!
associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He is pursuing a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.