An elegant, ornamental oak.

Native in Italy, and eastwards through Balkans.

Monoecious. Wind-pollinated. Animal-dispersed.

Medium (20m) with a broad jagged crown. Foliage strongly marcescent. Twigs and buds soon glabrous. Leaves glossy and dark, with incurving bristle-tipped lobes and short petioles (under 1cm). Acorn 3-4cm, held in a blue-green cupule with reflexed scales covering two-thirds of the acorn.

Full sun, well-drained soils. Drought-tolerant. Suitable for large gardens.

No notable associations where introduced.

Generally healthy.

Ornamental.