Our range of Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) bare root trees

We have Sessile Oak bare root trees in several sizes and specifications.   The 1+0 specification plants are seedlings (often called whips) which were sown from seed in spring and are sold during the following November to April months when dormant ie they are one year old. It is unusual for Oak to grow to a saleable plant in one year - generally we only have a few of these. The more normal specification for young oak saplings is a 1U1 which is a two year old plant, having had it's roots trimmed underground at the beginning of the second growing season to promote fibrous roots and stimulate growth.

All of these plants are grown by us on our farm in Herefordshire.

We always have several batches of seed for Quercus petraea including UK provenance (generally English and Welsh) and including a batch of Select Stand seed (the best where trees are being grown for timber production) so if the seed provenance is particulaly important to you please give us a call so that we can allocate plants from the best batch for your needs.

Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) Summary

Sessile means “stalkless” and the acorns on this variety of oak attach to the twigs at the base of the acorn but just to confuse, the leaves are on long stalks.  The mnemonic "sessile SALL" might help - short acorn, long leaf.  Sessile oak tends to have a straighter trunk and straighter branches than Quercus robur (English Oak).  A majestic, long living tree supporting huge amounts of wildlife (according to the Woodland Trust 326 types of wildlife are found ONLY on oak and they support more wildlife than any other native species).  The alternative name for Sessile oak is Irish oak and it is the national tree of Ireland.  It is more common than English oak in northern and western areas where rainfall is higher. 

The alternative name Durmast oak may derive from feeding pigs on acorns and beechnuts known as mast.

Soil and Situation suitable for Sessile oak

Sessile oak will tolerate slightly drier soils than English oak (although it does like plenty of rainfall) and is not suited to compacted or wet soils.  It’s a hardy, wind tolerant tree which will grow well on poor soils (acid or alkaline with a preference for acidic) as well as rich soils, and in semi shade but prefers full sun.  It tends to be grown more on the northern and western side of the UK which is wetter and it is suited to coastal situations.

Leaves, flowers and fruit

Making the assumption that most people know what an oak leaf looks like the differences between Sessile oak and English oak leaves are that Sessile oak leaves appear later by about two weeks, Sessile oak leave have a long stalk and do not have the earlobes” at the base which the English oak leaves have.

The male flowers are catkins which appear with the leaves in spring.  Female flowers are inconspicuous, are wind pollinated and become acorns which are a large single seed held inside a cup, green in colour initially and then maturing to brown. 

Eventual height and growth rate of Sessile oak

A mature Sessile oak can be 40m in height though around 20m is more common, and is quite slow growing at about 20-30cm pa. Britain's largest oak is a sessile oak growing in Herefordshire, and is about 100 feet tall and containing over 10 tons of wood.

Also known as Irish Oak or Durmast Oak.  Fagaceae family.