Truffle Holm Oak –
Quercus ilex Truffle (latin)
Adult Dimensions: Height up to 30 m, width up to 30 m (98,4').
Foliage: Evergreen.
Soil Type: Avoid soil that is too wet.
Hardiness: Very tolerant of cold but should avoid areas where temperatures are regularly -15°C.
Exposure: Full sun.
Growth of truffles:
The holm oak is a great truffle oak. It is important to plant it in a very chalky (alkaline, pH greater than 7.5) soil which is well drained to avoid any excessive moisture. It is suited to dry regions where there is little rainfall. It is vital that your plants establish good roots if the truffles are going to properly develop; therefore meticulous soil preparation is essential before planting.
See Planting truffle trees.
The planting density advised is between 250 and 400 plants/Hectare.
Regular maintenance and careful watering are equally important if you want to succeed.
See Everything you need to know about the truffle and how to grow it.
Being sensitive to both frost and water it is best planted in a warm temperate area.
The first truffles will be ready to harvest between 4 and 6 years !!
Throughout the world there are several different types of truffle, however in France only 2 are regularly planted: Tuber melanosporum and Tuber uncinatum. See The different types of Truffles.
Uncinatum tuber / Bourgogne Truffle: The Bourgogne truffle is appreciated for its strong flavour and incomparable de sous-bois, it is also for its nut like flavour that it has such a reputation for quality. It is harvested in September.
Melanosporum tuber / Perigord Truffle: The famous black truffle of Périgord is loved for its very strong unique flavour. It has a worldwide reputation. It is harvested from December to the end of March.
Which one to plant, Melanosporum tuber or Uncinatum tuber ?
The holm oak is unsuitable for cold areas. It is most suitable for areas where the Uncinatum tuber grows best. It is therefore not used to produce the Melanosporum tuber.
Other Truffle plants:
Melanosporum tuber Truffle Hazel (Corylus avellana Truffier Melanosporum tuber), deciduous foliage, moist soil, hardy to -28°C
Uncinatum tuber Truffle Hazel (Corylus avellana Truffier Uncinatum tuber), deciduous foliage, moist soil, hardy to -28°C
Melanosporum tuber Truffle Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens Truffier Melanosporum tuber), deciduous foliage, hardy to -20°C
Uncinatum tuber Truffle Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens Truffier Uncinatum tuber), deciduous foliage, hardy to -20°C
List of Oaks:
Black Oak (Quercus velutina or Quercus tinctoria), black bark near surface
Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Chinese Cork Oak (Quercus variabilis or Quercus bungeana), marcescent foliage, dark green with silvery underside, golden in autumn
Cork Oak (Quercus suber), evergreen foliage, dislikes chalky soil and harsh winters
Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), bushy tree, evergreen foliage, dislikes chalky soil
Cypress oak (Quercus robur 'Fastigiata'), superb erect shape, to be planted on its own or aligned
Downy Oak or pubescent Oak (Quercus pubescens), grey leaves, good quality heating wood
Garry oak or Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana)
Holm Oak or Holly Oak (Quercus ilex), prickly leaves that look like holly leaves, evergreen foliage
Hungarian Oak or Italian Oak (Quercus frainetto or Quercus farnetto), pretty dark green foliage with green grey underside, dislikes chalky soil
Japanese blue oak (Quercus glauca)
Nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii)
Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur or Quercus pedonculata), rapid growth, dislikes summer droughts
Pin Oak or Swamp Spanish Oak (Quercus palustris), shiny green foliage, bright red in autumn, dislikes chalky soil
Portuguese Oak (Quercus faginea)
Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica)
Red Oak or Northern Red Oak or Champion Oak (Quercus rubra or Quercus borealis), large dark green leaves, rapid growth, dislikes chalky soil and too much humidity
Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima)
Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), shiny green foliage, turning bright red in autumn, dislikes chalky soil
Serrata oak (Quercus serrata)
Sessile Oak or Durmast Oak (Quercus petraea or Quercus sessiliflora)
Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria)
Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii), bright red foliage in autumn
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor or quercus platanoides), shiny dark green leaves with grey downy undersides, turning browny red with pink underside in autumn
Truffle Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens Truffle)
Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris), dark green foliage resistant to powdery mildew, the acorn is surrounded by what looks like hairy tightly packed scales
Ubame Oak (Quercus phillyreoïdes), likes chalky soil, shiny dark green leaves
Willow oak (Quercus myrsineafolia or Quercus phellos), long and fine leaves, dislikes chalky soil
Woolly-leaved Oak (Quercus lanata), twisted trunk, likes acidic soil
See the Oaks catalogue
