Quercus cerris

The Cloven Oak is a large, deciduous tree native to the Turkish region, from which it derives its common name. In Israel, it grows naturally in the Hermon area but is not found in other forested regions. Its spread in Israel increased after the Six-Day War, following the capture of the Golan Heights, where it adapted well to the high mountain environment.

The tree features a gray, deeply grooved trunk and large, distinctly lobed leaves, resembling puzzle pieces, which give the species its name. Due to the high variability of its seeds, leaf shapes can range from broadly toothed to deeply dissected forms. The foliage is a vibrant green during the growing season, turning yellow and sometimes bright orange in the fall.

The Cloven Oak produces small, relatively broad acorns with a spiny, orange-colored cup. Acorn maturation takes about a year and a half. Notably, the outer part of the acorn is very bitter, encouraging wild animals to eat only the portion hidden by the cup, thereby aiding in the tree’s natural seed dispersal.

The tree has a relatively fast growth rate, which can accelerate with supplemental irrigation. Once established, it is drought-tolerant, although occasional watering helps maintain a fresh and vital canopy through the summer. It can also tolerate partial shade. Its crown structure is somewhat weaker compared to other oak species, but it remains resilient, pest-resistant, and long-lived.

The Cloven Oak is suitable for most regions of Israel, excluding the valleys and the Arava, due to extreme heat and dryness.

At our nursery, we also offer ‘Elijah,’ a hybrid between the Cloven Oak and the Lebanese Oak. This deciduous variety features an attractive oval form and spectacular fall foliage, displaying vibrant shades of yellow and orange.

Additional trees from the same family:
Quercus suber | Quercus ithaburensis | Quercus ilex |Quercus robur | Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ | Quercus calliprinos | Quercus virginiana | Hybrid Quercus suber x Q. ithaburensis ‘Goliath’ | Chestnut oak | Quercus libani | Quercus boissieri | Hybrid Quercus cerris x Q. look Kotschy ‘Enoch’ | Quercus cerris