Quercus aliena aka Oriental White Oak

Quercus aliena is a deciduous tree called oriental white oak. It belongs to the beech family and white oak group. Its native range spans parts of temperate Asia. Kew records it from the southern Russian Far East to Indo-China. The range also includes central and southern Japan, and Taiwan. It grows in mixed forests in China, Korea, and Japan. Forest records span elevations from 328–8,858 feet [100–2,700 metres].

In gardens, trees reach 40–80 feet [12.2–24.4 metres] tall. Their spreading crowns can reach 80 feet [24.4 metres] across. The gray bark has deep grooves. Leaves have a broad tip and narrow toward the base. They have regular lobes, coarse teeth, and clear veins. Each leaf can reach four to eight inches long. The upper face is shiny and dark green. Fine hairs cover the pale gray-white underside. Leaves turn yellow in fall before they drop.

Small flowers appear in spring but offer little garden display. Missouri Botanical Garden gives April to May as the bloom season. Chicago records a broader span, from March through June. Each tree bears both male and female flowers. The female flowers develop into acorns about one inch long. A cup covers about one-third of each acorn. The fruit ripens in September and October. Chicago confirms that this species produces acorns each fall.

This oak grows best in full sun and rich, moist loam. The soil should drain well, though sandy ground also suits it. It accepts some shade, but not full shade. It also tolerates alkaline soil and nearby black walnut trees. Sources place it in USDA hardiness zones 5–8. Its broad crown suits shade planting and woodland gardens. Chicago also lists street and specimen uses. Missouri Botanical Garden reports no serious pest or disease problems. Young plants form a deep taproot and become hard to move. Seeds lose viability when they dry out.

The seeds are edible after processing and cooking. They contain bitter tannins that need thorough leaching with water. Ground seeds can thicken stews or join grain flour in bread. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards. This does not establish safety for pets or raw seeds. It reports medicinal uses for astringent galls, without establishing clinical benefit. Galls also yield tannin and dye. The wood has local use in boat building.