European oak
Captured from current WPhistorical species datasheet.
At a glance
Scientific nameQuercus petraea
Trade / common nameEuropean oak
FamilyFagaceae
RegionEuropean oak is native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, and is more abundant in France, Poland, Yugoslavia, and the Baltic countries. It is the most common forest tree in Great Britain, especially Wales, and is found in pure stands and mixed forests, where it is often the dominant species. also reported to have naturalized locally in south-eastern Canada and north-eastern United States, and is planted in the south-eastern and Pacific states. The tree is cultivated in moist soils, and is found along roadsides and forest edges.
Distribution
European oak is native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, and is more abundant in France, Poland, Yugoslavia, and the Baltic countries. It is the most common forest tree in Great Britain, especially Wales, and is found in pure stands and mixed forests, where it is often the dominant species. also reported to have naturalized locally in south-eastern Canada and north-eastern United States, and is planted in the south-eastern and Pacific states. The tree is cultivated in moist soils, and is found along roadsides and forest edges.
Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Foundation posts, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lock gates, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shakes, Sheathing, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels
Countries & Distribution
These country connections come directly from the same SQL country–species bridge used by Country Detail and the Global Navigator.
Wood images
Linked historical images associated with this species record.
European oak
Captured from current WPhistorical species datasheet.
Projects & Inspiration
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Project images are illustrative inspiration, not species-identification photographs. Suitability should be checked against the species data and project requirements.
Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Foundation posts, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lock gates, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shakes, Sheathing, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels
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Project guidance can build on this species record, its properties and documented uses.
Appearance
Heartwood color
Red
White
Pink
Brown
Brown
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Yellowish brown
White to cream
Pale brown
Light tan to deep brown
Wood structure and quality are heavily influenced by growth conditions. Typically the wood has alternating bands of large-pored early wood and dense late wood, but timber from slow growing trees may have very narrow late wood zones, and are therefore soft and light in weight. Central European oak trees are reported to grow slowly and relatively evenly, and produce wood of uniform color and straight grain. Wood from northern Europe is typically harder and tougher.
Sapwood Color
Red
White
Paler than heartwood
Well defined
The distinct sapwood is the same color as the heartwood, but is lighter.
Luster
High
Slightly lustrous
Lustrous
Uses & Applications
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Foundation posts, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lock gates, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shakes, Sheathing, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels
Product Sources
Supplies of the brown variety of European oak is limited since it is in high demand for special uses and effects. Price is in the high range when it is imported into the US. Oaks native to the United States are usually substituted for the common type of English oak since they have the same uses.
Full Technical Species Profile
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