skip to main content

How old are store bought oaks?

mpieprzica Texas Z8

7 years ago

I bought a couple of Live Oak and Mexican White Oak last year at a local nursery. 5 gallon, about 6' tall, and less than 1" in diameter. Lo and behold if both of them didn't put out acorns this year. This confuses me as i thought that Oaks didn't produce acorns until ~15-20 years. The small store bought Oaks don't appear to have more than 3-4 years of growth. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Featured Answer

Embothrium

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Some retailers hang onto unsold woody plants for long periods of time, without even potting them on. So especially if these are in old looking soil that has sunk down well below the rim of the container they could have been around for years. But are probably not 15-20 years old - it could be that the species involved fruit young when situated in marginal growing sites, and these examples being trapped in the containers is producing this response.

Also although production from seed is common with oaks there also is some grafting for uniformity and other advantages going on, so if there is any possibility of these two species being grafted maybe you got grafted trees. Such would have the sexual maturity of the source trees, despite still being small themselves.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

davidrt28 (zone 7)
7 years ago
Agree with E. but would point out it is very unlikely these particular species would be grafted. In 25 years of buying plants by mail order I've never seen a southern oak sold that way. In fact grafted oaks are quite rare, period.
mpieprzica Texas Z8 thanked davidrt28 (zone 7)
Related Discussions
Unknown grocery store bought Cycad... and irregular new growth
Q
Comments (6)
Zamia furfuracea is the "cardboard palm" with thick, textured leaves that are brownish on the undersides. Zamia floridana is the "coontie" They both need similar conditions. Neither is likely to have success where they are currently situated, based on the new growth they have made. They will very slowly look worse and worse and will be candidates for insect, mealy, scale or mite infestation. Without enough light they may not even send out new growth at all. The existing new leaves have formed as a result of the plants' prior existence. Cycads store carbohydrates from photosynthesis. When the critical threshold has been reached, they form new leaves. Without light there is no phootosynthesis, and no growth. The older leaves can last several years. I cannot stress enough - without good light your plants will never be healthy despite your best efforts with good soil and fertilizer. Cycads are not good houseplants unless you can provide superior lighting. Try Sansevieria for a low light location. x
...See More
Can one stain 'New' Red Oak to match 'Old' Red Oak?
Q
Comments (16)
"Can one stain 'New' Red Oak to match 'Old' Red Oak?" This is tuff to do. When we do a repair in an old Vancouver Home I often use some Shellac first and then top coat with Polyurethane. The shellac gives me the aged look or yellowing and the two seam to work well together. Some times we tint the top coat a little. Judgement calls since sunlight and time will yellow the top coat so making it look right now might make it look wrong in a year.....
...See More
How do you freeze your store bought meat
Q
Comments (26)
A food saver sealer is a real investment in keeping meat fresh and freezer burn free in your freezer for years. I recently discovered a steak in the bottom of my deep freeze that was dated Jan 2007. I defrosted it and it was absolutely fine! I wouldn't tend to keep anything that long again, but I swear by my food saver, it's been one of the most used appliances I have ever bought. I'm not a kitchen "gadget" person at all (chop everything by hand!) but this is worth it, we never throw meats away which have been vaccum sealed with the food saver. TIP: I store it under the counter cabinet in a place easily accessible so that I can grab and use it very quickly and easily. I used to keep it in my pantry closet and it collected dust - I just never thought about it. My neighbor has one of the cheap, hand held vaccum things for zip lock bags and isn't happy at all with it, the vaccum seal breaks too often and then the food dries out badly. I can buy meats on sale, divide them into the portion sizes I wish, wash and dry them and seal them up, I. D. them as to type and how much ("rainbow trout, one meal for 2" for example) and date them with an indelible marker and they are fine for YEARS in the freezer. I also make up lasagnas etc this way and meat loafs etc. It's really a wonderful way to take food out of your freezer and have it as fresh tasting as the day you put it in. I realize I'm sounding awfully enthusiastic, I don't sell this product or have a connection to it other than as a customer but when I find something I really like I like to spread the word.
...See More
Any sewers out there? How can I add umpf to store bought curtains?
Q
Comments (67)
Look. This is all subjective. If you sew, you know what can be done for what. You know the market where you are. You know, (WELL!) the clearance section of your local fabric store. And you know the costs of diy vs ready made. Some of us have more time than money and some of us enjoy getting custom for ready-made. Everyone's different, folks. For me, I do enjoy it and I have the time and I will not waste because that's not the right way to live in the world. Occasionally I am forced to get something off the shelf, but I make sure that I can't make it for less, first. Sometimes I do buy from Ikea (in fact I will be for my family room as I'm not looking for anything specific for this room)...I think it's a great resource for large quantities of drapes for very little...but your choices are limited there. jmho
...See More
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
i bought 6 to 8 foot bare roots oaks.. of many varieties but NOT southern varieties .... ... 1.5 to 2 inch caliper ...

it took 10 to 15 years for acorns ...

perhaps you mistyped ... because you say you did not have acorns ...

ken
mpieprzica Texas Z8 thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Embothrium
7 years ago
Cuttings are also used, which would result in cloning as well.
mpieprzica Texas Z8 thanked Embothrium
davidrt28 (zone 7)
7 years ago
"Cuttings are also used, which would result in cloning as well."

But again, it's pretty darn unusual; it seems various English oak cultivars or hybrids from JF Schmidt or Heritage seedlings are the only ones commonly sold this way. The OP would probably know they'd bought a grafted plant. Some just bear early and as you said, the stress of being pot bound can do it.
mpieprzica Texas Z8 thanked davidrt28 (zone 7)
lucky_p
7 years ago
Bur oak seedlings that I have grown out and transplanted into my yard and out around the farm often begin producing good crops of acorns by 6-8 years of age.
mpieprzica Texas Z8 thanked lucky_p
mpieprzica Texas Z8
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Wow Lucky_P! That's awesome! You are correct, i've checked out the root flare, and there is no sign of grafting. daviddrt28, This is something I haven't heard of until posting this, but seems well documented in this post. Thanks to all for the info!
katob Z6ish, NE Pa
7 years ago
The limited root space for container grown oaks might induce early blooming and fruiting. Sometimes plants respond to stress by trying to set seeds, in a confined space the oak might 'know' it has little chance of growing huge so will rather put its efforts into taking over the forest via seeds instead.
mpieprzica Texas Z8 thanked katob Z6ish, NE Pa

Related Stories

LIGHTING So You Bought a Cave: 7 Ways to Open Your Home to Light

By Alison Hodgson

Make the most of the natural light your house does have — and learn to appreciate some shadows, too

ECLECTIC STYLE 5 Reasons to Hit That Secondhand Store

By Laura Gaskill

New things have their place, but old things have a history and beauty all their own

BUDGET DECORATING Pop Culture Watch: Get a Good Rap With Thrift Store Scores

By Becky Harris

Eight rooms that rock secondhand finds, in an ideabook inspired by rappers taking YouTube by storm

ORGANIZING Pre-Storage Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Store

By Laura Gaskill

Wait, stop. Do you really need to keep that item you’re about to put into storage?

DECORATING GUIDES 12 Antique Store Finds to Nab Now, Place Later

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

See the accessories one decorator always buys when she spots them — as long as she gets there first

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: Goodbye, Honey Oak — Hello, Minty Green

By Mitchell Parker

After more than 30 years, the Kloesels revamped their space to reflect their rural country town and Victorian-style home

FURNITURE Old Furniture: Clean, Reupholster or Replace It?

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

A veteran upholstery cleaner weighs in on the options for found, inherited and thrift store furniture

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Everything Old-World Is New Again

By Cedar Hill Interiors, LLC

Give even a new build a romantic history with lighting fixtures, hardware and drapes that recall the Old Country

DIY PROJECTS Dining Set Makeover: Paint and Tea-Tinted Fabric Make Old Chairs New

By Sarah Greenman

Reclaim dated dining chairs for far less than buying new, using spray paint, modern fabric and a handful of tea bags

RUSTIC STYLE Old Southern Highlands Style for a New North Carolina Retreat

Antique woods add a sense of history to a gracious part-time home in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Sponsored

More Discussions

Bursera Fagaroides?

4

Is This a Sandbox Tree?

1

Dappled willow tree damaged by deer

3

Pink dogwood with buck damage

2

Is it normal for new trees to have 8"of solid clay in the root ball?

1