There are three evergreen oaks at Vancouver General Hospital that I am trying to find a species name for. I've got a hint with "Thompson Oak", but can't find that common name anywhere. They're next to the parking lot directly south from Willow Street. Also, are there any other good evergreen oaks to grow in Vancouver? Thanks, Megan
Can you post a close-up pic of the foliage? Some evergreen oaks that should do well in Vancouver: Quercus ilex Quercus suber Quercus agrifolia Quercus chrysolepis Quercus wislizenii Quercus rhysophylla Quercus (Cyclobalanopsis) acuta Quercus (Cyclobalanopsis) glauca Quercus (Cyclobalanopsis) myrsinifolia
Maybe these particular specimens happen to be mentioned in Dr Straley's book TREES OF GREATER VANCOUVER.
Straley's book is great but it doesn't allow you to look up trees by location or street. I bought it so I could answer questions like this (for example, what kind of tree are those that look like feather dusters along Nanaimo around 15th, or Blenheim from about 10th to 13th?) I still enjoy it, but if a new edition is ever done it should have a street index added.
I have seen Quercus myrsinifolia listed as evergreen oak around here... I think I remember talking to Don Vaughn a couple of years ago and he (his firm) was doing the work for the restoration of VGH, you could try slipping him a brief email and ask? http://www.vaughanplanning.com/contact.htm
I finally got an answer from a fellow student. The oaks are a hybrid of Quercus robur and Quercus ilex. The species is Quercus x Turnerii (Turner Oak). Thanks for all of your responses. In actuality, I think these are more semi-evergreen. The trees at VGH actually have only 1/2 their leaves at this point. For some additional info: http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/heritage/plants/turnersoak.html Here is are two photos (sorry about the blurry leaves):
The leaves certainly look right for Q. x turneri, but I'm a bit surprised at how bare the trees are now; there's a couple near where I live, and they've still got nearly all their leaves on. They only start to look a bit threadbare immediately before the new leaves appear. I'll try to get a photo in the next day or two.
Notice browing of leaves in closeup shot, perhaps there is a problem that is causing them to drop more readily. Also, many different kinds of trees and shrubs are budding out down here now; maybe these oaks think it is spring, too. NORTH AMERICAN LANDSCAPE TREES* says "Among the hardiest of evergreen oaks; leaves drop as the buds open in spring...The many specimens in Vancouver, B.C., are topgrafted and form gaunt, rounded trees of singular appearance and little beauty." *1996 Arthur Lee Jacobson
I'll be planting Quercus emoryi this spring. I'll likely be an old man before this looks like anything much.
Finally got round to taking some pics of my local Quercus × turneri today - mid February, and still in nearly full leaf
With the same hybrid epithet being applied to any and all instances of the two parent species crossing there could be more than one clone in cultivation.
Checked up, that's probably the explanation, as there is a cultivar Q. × turneri 'Pseudoturneri' which is described as shedding its leaves for 2 or 3 months in late winter. That could be what VGH have.
Looking again at Jacobson's book I see Quercus x turneri 'Pseudoturneri' is what he was describing (see excerpt, above) and not Q. x turneri.
