Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Quercus coccifera (Kermes oak)
1 hour care
per year
per year
5m
Max height
Max height
5m
Max spread
Max spread
20-50 Years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Quercus coccifera
Other names
Kermes oak
Genus
Quercus Quercus
Species
Q. coccifera - Q. coccifera is a slow-growing, bushy, rounded to spreading, evergreen shrub or small tree with ovate, oblong, or lance-shaped, glossy, dark green leaves with spiny, margins and insignificant, yellow-green flowers in spring. Female flowers are followed small, spherical or ovoid acorns with spiny cups.
Quercus coccifera is: Evergreen
Tree shape
Spreading
Toxicity
Ingestion may cause severe discomfort.
Flower
Yellow-brown, Yellow-green in Spring
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Also: Knopper gall wasps
Specific pests
Leaf mining moths , Aphids , Caterpillars , Oak gall wasps Leaf mining moths , Aphids , Caterpillars , Oak gall wasps
Diseases
Also suffers from oak wilt in North America only.
Honey fungus , Oak galls , Oak wilt , Powdery mildew Honey fungus , Oak galls , Oak wilt , Powdery mildew
General care
Propagation methods
Grafting, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Quercus coccifera (Kermes oak) will reach a height of 5m and a spread of 5m after 20-50 Years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Specimen tree, Wildlife
Cultivation
Plant in deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Tends to drop old leaves in spring. Tolerates a wide range of conditions.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Quercus coccifera
Other names
Kermes oak
Genus
Quercus Quercus
Species
Q. coccifera - Q. coccifera is a slow-growing, bushy, rounded to spreading, evergreen shrub or small tree with ovate, oblong, or lance-shaped, glossy, dark green leaves with spiny, margins and insignificant, yellow-green flowers in spring. Female flowers are followed small, spherical or ovoid acorns with spiny cups.
Native to
Mediterranean
Foliage
Evergreen
Tree shape
Spreading
Toxicity
Ingestion may cause severe discomfort.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Yellow-brown, Yellow-green in Spring
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Also: Knopper gall wasps
Specific pests
Leaf mining moths , Aphids , Caterpillars , Oak gall wasps
Diseases
Also suffers from oak wilt in North America only.
Specific diseases
Honey fungus , Oak galls , Oak wilt , Powdery mildew
General care
Propagation methods
Grafting, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Quercus coccifera (Kermes oak) will reach a height of 5m and a spread of 5m after 20-50 Years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Specimen tree, Wildlife
Cultivation
Plant in deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Tends to drop old leaves in spring. Tolerates a wide range of conditions.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login