Oak trees have occupied this planet far longer than humans did. All their parts, from its body to its fruits, serve many purposes to humans and animals alike. They also stand for many things in different cultures and aspects of life. Learn more about the esteemed species by reading these oak tree facts that you need to know.
On average, an oak tree lifespan lasts up to 200 years.
They grow and produce acorns until they reach 700 years when they are considered old. Upon reaching its 1,000-year mark, an oak tree slows down in growth with some parts starting to die.
The average oak tree height is 50-70 feet or 15-21 meters.
Despite their overwhelming appearance, the oak species stay in the middle-height category. What makes it look big is the spread of its branches which can have a branch-to-branch reach of around 50 feet or 15 meters once fully grown.
Oaktree symbolism speaks of strength and endurance.
A lot of countries regard it as their national tree. The list includes Bulgaria, Cyprus, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, U.S.A., and Wales.
Among all trees, oak trees hold the highest probability of lightning strikes.
Hence, the tree is of high significance for Druids seeking ‘arwen,’ or inspiration. They believe that they can acquire it through lightning, calling it ‘courting the flash.’
The oldest record for an oak tree goes to the Pechanga Great Oak Tree.
Located in the United States, the tree is estimated to be 2,000 years old.
The largest record for an oak tree goes to the Seven Sisters Oak.
It is also counted as one of the oldest of its kind, its age believed to be at 1,500 years. Owned by a woman named Carole Hendra Doby, the tree is located in Mandeville, Louisiana.
The Seven Sisters Oak was named that way partly because the owner was one of seven sisters, and partly because of the seven-branch sets that spread out from its main trunk.
Oak trees do not bear fruits until they are nearly 20 years old.
Until then, they can produce up to 2,000 acorns yearly. However, only 1 in every 10,000 acorns borne would grow into a new tree. It is equivalent to one oak tree born to a full-grown tree in one year.
A single oak tree can germinate both male and female flowers.
Male flowers appear with or after the leaves and yield hanging yellow catkins. On the other hand, female flowers have overlapping scales in a husk which then enlarges to hold the acorn.
Where male flowers grow on one part of an oak tree branch, female flowers grow on another part.
Oaktree roots grow from an acorn to a taproot system.
The primary root would grow horizontally into the soil. Later on, the taproots would transform into an extensive root system alongside the maturation of the plant.
In Britain, a six-pence coin is engraved with an image of the oak tree.
It stands as one of the oldest coins in the country. Moreover, oak branches also appear on German coins, Deutsche Marks, and Euro currencies.
