Emory Oak Tree
An evergreen oak species from Southern Arizona, the Emory Oak has been prized for millennia for its tasty acorns that have no tannins and can be eaten fresh right off the tree without any leaching. While thought to be marginally cold hardy here, these seedlings are from a particularly high elevation stand northeast of Phoenix, courtesy of the ever tenacious plant explorer Sean Hogan. The acorns are truly delicious from these trees, but it is also a gorgeous ornamental and will make a fantastic evergreen street or garden tree.
Latin Name: Quercus emoryi
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil.
Hardiness: Hardy to at least 0F
Bearing Age: 4-5 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 20-40 ft. in height
Bloom Time: April
Ripening Time: August
Yield: 50+ lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Oaks are susceptible to Sudden Oak Death, a fungal disease that can kill entire stands of oaks, though we’ve not seen it yet in our area
USDA Zone: 8a, we’re guessing. Plants have been hardy for the past 4 winters here in the PNW