Image - Wikimedia / Nanosanchez
El Quercus canariensis It is an imposing tree that can grow over 20 meters tall under suitable conditions, and although its growth is rather slow, it is one of those species that stand out for their beauty from a young age. If you are interested in the types of trees that you can grow, this is definitely an option to consider.
As if that were not enough, it is not harmed by low temperatures, but if the climate is mild, its leaves remain on the tree for more than a year before falling next autumn. Learn more.
Origin and characteristics
Image - Wikimedia / Canley
Our protagonist is a tree native to North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. In the past it is likely that it lived in the Canary Islands, but for reasons that are unknown today, it disappeared from the archipelago. It is known by the common names of gall oak, Andalusian gall oak, and Andalusian oak, and by the scientist Quercus canariensis.
It grows to a height of 30 meters, with a straight, sturdy trunk and grayish-brown bark, with shallow cracks in older specimens. The leaves are somewhat leathery, measuring 6 to 18 cm, and are elliptical or elongated. The flowers are yellow, hanging catkins, and the fruit is a domed acorn with slightly uneven scales. For more information on other trees, check out our guide on monumental trees of Spain.
What are their cares?
Image - Wikimedia / Javier martin
If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:
- Location: it must be outside, in full sun or in semi-shade.
- Earth:
- Garden: grows in deep, cool soils. The limestone is afraid.
- Pot: advisable to use growing substrate for acidic plants, or akadama mixed with 30% kiryuzuna.
- Irrigation: about 4 times a week in summer, and about 2 / week the rest of the year.
- Subscriber: from early spring to late summer with natural fertilizers.
- Pruning: you don't need it.
- Multiplication: by seeds in winter (they need to be cold before germinating).
- Rusticity: resistant up to -12ºC.
What did you think of the Andalusian gallbladder?
Precious tree. Yesterday I discovered some, already advanced in years, planted in the small square in front of the parish of S. Matías in the Hortaleza neighborhood in Madrid.
Thank you very much for the tip, Domingo. Surely more than one will be useful 🙂