About this tree
Quercus imbricaria, also known as shingle oak, is native to the central and eastern United States. This medium-sized oak typically reaches 15–20 m in height and has a broad, rounded crown. The tree is named for the fact that its wood splits into sheets that have been used to make roof shingles for centuries. It has unusual, narrow, oblong leaves, with smooth edges and a shiny dark green surface. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow-brown before falling, usually later in the autumn than other oak species. As with other oaks, its bark is smooth and grey when young, becoming ridged with age. It is less commonly planted in ornamental landscapes compared to other oaks, and plantings are not so common in Europe, making this one of the rarer trees in the Klostergut Arboretum.