Campus Tree Tour
Fagaceae – Beech Family
In 2024, this sawtooth oak measured at 66 feet tall and had a diameter of 37 inches. Based on USDA Forest Service models, it will absorb approximately 2,892 lbs. of carbon over the next 20 years. Put simply, this tree will offset up to 11,704 car miles worth of carbon dioxide.
See all species on our Campus Tree Tour.
Introduction
The sawtooth oak is an exotic species introduced from Eastern Asia to the Southeastern United States as an urban plant. Its broad, pyramidal canopy rounds out with age, providing ample shade beneath. As its name suggests, the tree’s leaves have saw-like serrations resembling sharp teeth along their edges. Within its eastern range, the sawtooth oak is planted as a decorative tree for its longevity and aesthetic.
Physical Description
Life expectancy: Up to 250 years
Height: 35 – 45 feet, up to 70 feet
Crown: 35 – 50 feet
Diameter: Up to 40 inches
Bark: Greyish-brown and slightly corky that becomes deeply fissured and ridged with age.
Leaves: Deciduous, simple, and alternately arranged upon the twig. Long leaves with toothed, serrated margins (edges). The leaves are glossy green that turn brown once shed.
Twigs: Has a cluster of buds at the terminal end of the twig, a distinguishing characteristic of oaks.
Flowers: Yellow-green catkins (male flowers) and small spike flowers (female) that turn brown with age and are produced in the spring.
Fruits: Small (3/4 inch) brown acorns with a nut enclosed in a cap with long recurving scales that covers 2/3 of the nut. Matures in the fall.
Key Identification Characteristics: corky bark, serrated leaves, terminal buds
Past and Present Uses
The sawtooth oak was introduced to the United States around 1920; it was chosen for its resistance to insects and disease, wildlife value, and attractive form. These attributes, as well as its adaptability to different soils, made it a suitable option as an urban plant.
Ecological Importance
Origin: Native to Japan, Korea, China, and the Himalayas.
Non-Native Range: Found from New England to Pennsylvania, south to northern Florida, and west to Louisiana.
Figure 1. Non-native range of Sawtooth Oak. Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Originally from Eastern Asia, the sawtooth oak grows best in deep, well-drained soils with limited flooding. Although the tree is not native to Florida, the sawtooth oak is popular with native wildlife as it produces large quantities of acorns during the fall. This abundance in acorns attracts various mammal species foraging for food. Certain insects may create galls for nesting on leaves and twigs, while other insects will feed on the leaves for its nutrients.
More Information
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST540
References
Gilman, E. F., & Watson, D. G. (2015). Enh-698/ST540: Quercus acutissima: Sawtooth oak. Ask IFAS - Powered by EDIS. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST540
International Dendrology Society. (n.d.). Quercus acutissima Carruth. Trees and Shrubs Online. https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/quercus/quercus-acutissima/
i-Tree. (2006). Tree tools - calculate the benefits of trees!. i-Tree. https://www.itreetools.org/
NC State Extension. (n.d.). Quercus acutissima. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-acutissima/
Sawtooth Oak. Virginia Tech Dendrology Fact Sheet. (n.d.). https://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=67
USDA NRCS. (n.d.). Sawtooth oak. Plant Fact Sheet. https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_quac80.pdf