English oak
Quercus robur
Also called Common oak and Pedunculate oak
Garden plant · TreesAcorns and fallen leaves are the danger and it is horses that pay for it — ASPCA lists the whole genus. A tree over a paddock wants its leaf fall raked.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 8 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Feed
- Not needed
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 20 m tall · 18 m across
- Lifecycle
- Tree
- Origin
- Europe, to the Caucasus and north Africa
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, horses.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-10.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A white silken nest the size of a fist pressed flat against the trunk or a big limb, and caterpillars moving up the bark nose-to-tail in a line. Do not touch it — the hairs are the hazard, not the bite.Oak processionary moth · pest