Description
Lithocarpus –
There are about 300 species of oak and chestnut like, evergreen trees and shrubs in this genus. They occur in forest and mountain slopes, mainly in Eastern and Southeastern Asia, with one species occurring in Western USA. It produces leaves which are alternate, leathery, and mostly smooth edged, but occasionally toothed. Cylindrical male and female flowers (either unisexual or bisexual) are held in erect spikes at or near the ends of the branches (like a chestnut), and are followed by clusters of acorns(like the oaks acorns), usually closely packed on the spikes. Grown for their handsome foliage, they are effective both as specimen trees and in open site in a woodland garden.
Grow in moderately fertile, acidic to neutral, moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Prone to oak wilt and powdery mildew.
L. henryi – This slow growing, broadly conical, evergreen tree from China grows to 30′ feet tall and wide. It produces narrowly oblong to elliptic-oblong, pointed, smooth edged, leathery leaves, to 10″ long, pale green at first, later dark green. Tiny white flowers are held in upright spikes to 6″ long, in autumn or winter. Bears clustered acorns, to 1″ long, in upright spikes in winter.
Zones 8-10
