
The fastigiate English oak tree is a unique and stunning addition to any landscape. It's a deciduous tree that grows upright, with a narrow crown and straight trunk.
This tree can grow up to 50 feet tall, making it a great choice for smaller spaces. It's also relatively slow-growing, which means it's a good option for those who want a tree that won't outgrow its surroundings quickly.
The fastigiate English oak tree prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. This means it's best planted in areas with good air circulation to prevent disease.
With proper care, a fastigiate English oak tree can live for hundreds of years, providing shade and beauty to generations of families.
You might enjoy: Chilean Thornless Mesquite Tree
Tree Details
The Fastigiate English Oak is a unique and elegant tree that's perfect for landscaping. It has a height of up to 45 feet with a spread of up to 15 feet.
This tree is native to Europe and has been introduced to America, where it thrives in zones 4 to 7. It's a strongly upright and columnar shaped tree that will spread as it matures.
Intriguing read: Scots Pine Xmas Trees
Its bark is dark brown and slightly furrowed, while its young twigs are greenish-brown but mostly hidden by dense leaf cover. There are numerous cultivars in the nursery trade, including hybrids of white oak and English oak.
The Fastigiate English Oak is tolerant of heat and most Colorado soils, making it a great choice for landscaping in those areas. It's also a good tall screen tree due to its tight columnar habit.
The tree requires a large open space to develop fully, so it's not recommended for small home grounds. It's also a good alternative to Lombardy poplar, which has pest issues and is short-lived.
In terms of growth habit, the Fastigiate English Oak grows with coarse, upright branches that remain tightly closed, keeping the crown narrow and compact even at a mature age. It can reach a height of up to 15 meters.
The tree's leaves are dark green above and blue-green beneath, with small blunt lobes per side. They display little fall color, but the acorns are oval and have caps that extend approximately 1/3 the acorn length.
The Fastigiate English Oak is a hardy tree that's perfect for landscaping in a variety of conditions.
You might like: Mexican Dogwood Tree
Growth and Appearance
The fastigiate English oak is a stunning tree with a unique growth habit. It's a narrow upright tree that can reach a height of up to 15 meters.
Its branches are coarse and upright, remaining tightly closed to keep the crown narrow and compact even at maturity. This makes it an ideal choice for avenues or where height is desired but not spread.
The tree grows at a moderate rate, eventually reaching about 20 meters in height, with a spread of 3-5 meters. Large acorns hang on to the branches for most of winter, adding to its winter interest.
Here's a rough guide to staking your fastigiate English oak as it grows:
- 40/60, 60/80, 80/100 whips: Unless rabbit/deer problem, no need to stake.
- 100/125, 125/150: 1.2m Cane and Easi tie.
- 150/175: 1.2m square stake and a buckle tie and spacer.
- 175/250, 6/8, 8/10: 15L 1.65 Tree stake and a buckle tie and spacer.
- All larger trees: 2 x 1.65 Tree stake and cross rail with 38mm cushion spacer and 1m of 38mm strapping.
Characteristics
The columnar English Oak is a sight to behold, with its narrow upright branches and compact crown. It's a very upright form of oak that makes a tall column, appearing almost like a conifer from a distance.
This tree grows at a moderate rate, eventually reaching about 20m in height, with a spread of 3-5m. It's ideal for avenues or where height is desired, but not spread.
Take a look at this: English Laurel Height

The architectural shape of this tree makes it a good specimen tree, too. Large acorns hang on to the branches for most of winter.
Here's a rough guide to staking this tree at different heights:
- 40/60, 60/80, 80/100 whips - Unless rabbit/deer problem no need to stake.
- 100/125, 125/150 1.2m Cane and Easi tie.
- 150/175 1.2m square stake and a buckle tie and spacer.
- 175/250, 6/8, 8/10 15L 1.65 Tree stake and a buckle tie and spacer.
- All larger trees. 2 x 1.65 Tree stake and cross rail with 38mm cushion spacer and 1m of 38mm strapping.
Autumn Coloration
As the seasons change, the Quercus robur 'Fastigiate Koster' tree puts on a stunning display of autumn coloration, turning a vibrant yellow, orange, or brown.
In the fall, the tree's foliage becomes a kaleidoscope of warm hues, creating a breathtaking sight to behold.
The Quercus robur 'Fastigiate Koster' tree's autumn coloration is a natural process that occurs as the days get shorter and the nights get cooler.
The exact timing of the tree's autumn coloration can vary depending on the specific growing conditions, but it usually happens in late September or early October.
Plant a Tree
Planting a fastigiate English oak tree is a straightforward process. First, determine the final location of the tree, ensuring it's free from cables, debris, old plants, and other obstacles that may hinder its growth.
Dig a planting hole that's twice the width of the root ball. This will give the tree's roots enough room to grow.
Loosen the soil at the bottom of the planting hole and mix it with garden soil or planting substrate. This will help the tree establish a strong root system.
Adjust the planting hole to the height where the root ball fits, and firmly press the soil. Make sure the tree isn't planted too deep, as this can cause root rot.
Fill the planting hole with water and wait for it to settle. Check if the root ball is sufficiently moist before proceeding.
To secure the tree, insert a tree stake or bamboo stake firmly into the ground on the side of the tree where the most wind comes from.
Here's a quick rundown of the necessary steps:
- Determine the final location of the tree.
- Dig a planting hole that's twice the width of the root ball.
- Loosen the soil at the bottom of the planting hole and mix it with garden soil or planting substrate.
- Adjust the planting hole to the height where the root ball fits.
- Firmly press the soil and fill the planting hole with water.
- Insert a tree stake or bamboo stake firmly into the ground.
Featured Images: pexels.com


