Ring-cupped oak is an evergreen oak native to Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and the Himalayas that brings architectural elegance and year-round structure to temperate landscapes. Growing 20 to 30 feet tall in cultivation (sometimes reaching 30 to 50 feet in its native habitat), this upright-oval to rounded tree features leathery, glossy dark green leaves with a distinctive glaucous gray-green underside. Hardy in zones 7 through 9, it adapts to a wide range of soil conditions and requires only moderate water and low maintenance once established, thriving in full sun where it serves as an excellent shade or street tree.
Full Sun
Moderate
7-9
360in H x 180in W
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Moderate
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The glossy, leathery foliage with its striking gray-green undersides gives this oak a refined appearance that sets it apart from many temperate shade trees. Its ability to tolerate clay soils, adapt to dry conditions, and maintain evergreen foliage year-round makes it particularly valuable for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance tree with architectural presence. The toothed leaves near their apex add textural interest, while the tree's capacity to grow as either a substantial tree or large shrub offers flexibility in landscape design.
Ring-cupped oak serves primarily as a shade tree and street tree, offering dense, year-round foliage that provides cooling and visual screening. Its adaptability to urban growing conditions and tolerance of clay soils make it particularly suited to streetscape plantings and park settings where deciduous oaks might struggle or where evergreen structure is desired.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant young trees in spring before growth begins, ensuring they are positioned in full sun. Space individual trees according to their mature width of 120 to 180 inches (10 to 15 feet), accounting for their rounded form. Ensure adequate soil preparation with organic matter worked into the planting hole.
Minimal pruning is required for ring-cupped oak. Prune young trees to establish a strong central leader and well-spaced primary branches, removing any crossing or awkwardly angled growth. Once mature, prune only to remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood or to maintain the desired form. Avoid excessive pruning, as oaks benefit from a natural branching structure.
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“Ring-cupped oak hails from a vast geographic range spanning East Asia, from Japan and Korea through China and Taiwan to the Himalayan regions, where it evolved as a dominant evergreen in temperate forests. The common name derives from the characteristic ring-like structure at the base of its acorns (the cup). Its introduction to Western cultivation brought a reliable, hardy evergreen oak option to temperate gardens, where it has been valued for centuries in its native regions and more recently appreciated by Western gardeners seeking alternatives to deciduous oaks.”