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Sawtooth Oak Fact Sheet

Family: Fagaceae - Beech family
Latin name: Quercus acutissima
Common name: Sawtooth oak

Quercus acutissima - Sawtooth oakQuercus acutissima - Sawtooth oak

Plant Symbol = QUAC80

Sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima) is a good shade tree. It is also a good source of food and cover for wildlife.
Sawtooth oak is native to eastern Asia but was introduced into the eastern United States around 1920.


Quercus acutissima - Sawtooth oakQuercus acutissima - Sawtooth oakQuercus acutissima - Sawtooth oak
LEAVES: The leaves of Sawtooth oak are 4-8 inches long. They have pointed teeth with a bristle at the end of each vein. Sawtooth oak leaves are similar to those of the chestnut but are smaller. Leaves are glossy green in the summer. The leaves turn brown in the winter and may stay on the tree through most of the winter.


Quercus acutissima - Sawtooth oakQuercus acutissima - Sawtooth oak
TWIGS: The summer twig shows small acorns and next year's buds in the leaf axils.


Quercus acutissima - Sawtooth oakQuercus acutissima - Sawtooth oakQuercus acutissima - Sawtooth oak

FRUIT: Acorn - about 1" in diameter with a fringed cup. About 2/3 of the nut is covered by the cup. Pictures of acorns taken and August, October and January.


Quercus acutissima - Sawtooth oakNovember buds. Are these unusual? Throughout November I watched the buds in one area of this Sawtooth oak and they appeared to be opening as they would in the spring. The leaves have also remained longer than those of any tree in the area!!


Morton Arboretum Information

Trade Names: SAWTOOTH OAK

Range: Japan, Korea, China, Himalayas

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 - 9

Most of the photos on this page are from the following tree

189-94*1   - near Thornhill Parking, west median: NN-25/23-79


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Karren Wcisel © copyright 2006 - 2009

Send email to Karrenw@aol.com

Please ask for permission before using my photographs. Larger sizes and additional photographs of the tree are often available.

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