Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima)
$24.95
Pre-order for Late July 2026. BioSecure HACCP certified for Eastern States. TAS, WA & NT: Contact before ordering.
- Chestnut-Like Serrated Foliage
- Clay Soil Adaptable
- Exceptional Foundation Value
- BioSecure HACCP Dispatch
In stock
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A Different Kind of Oak.
Quercus acutissima—the Sawtooth Oak—challenges everything you expect from a traditional oak tree. Native to East Asia, it abandons the familiar lobed foliage of the English Oak in favour of distinctively toothed, chestnut-like leaves that add unique textural interest to the landscape. Reaching a majestic 15–20m with a broadly spreading canopy, this is a large, rugged shade tree known for its highly ornamental fringed acorn cups and exceptional adaptability to challenging, clay-heavy soils that other oaks simply will not tolerate. Its tawny brown-gold autumn foliage holds late into winter, providing lasting semi-marcescent structural interest. Offered at a highly accessible seedling grade, this 25-unit allocation presents outstanding value for landscape designers, rural property owners, and acreage developers seeking premium field-grown roots for large-scale foundation plantings.
At a Glance
Stock Format: Bare root — Seedling field-grown grade
Est. Cane Height: Confirmed upon arrival from grower in Late July 2026
Mature Size: 15–20m in height and spread (Requires significant space)
Growth Habit: Broadly spreading, large deciduous canopy tree
Style: Rural Acreages / Parklands / Foundation Landscape Planting
BARE ROOT ESTABLISHMENT: DISPATCHING LATE JULY 2026*
*Your tree will arrive fully dormant—a bundle of clean, field-grown seedling roots and a primary shoot. This format provides superior root architecture at an unbeatable value. Plant within 48 hours of receipt for immediate establishment before the spring flush.
When most Australian gardeners picture an oak, they envision the classic lobed leaves of the English Oak (Quercus robur). The East Asian Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima) offers a radically different aesthetic for collectors and landscape architects. The leaves are oblong and sharply serrated—closely resembling those of a chestnut tree—creating a finer, more textured canopy. In autumn, this foliage turns a rich, tawny brown-gold and often remains clinging to the branches deep into the winter months (a trait known as marcescence), providing shelter for wildlife and continuous visual structure.
Beyond its foliage, the tree produces fascinating, highly ornamental acorns encased in deeply fringed, moss-like cups. Because this is a large, spreading tree that reaches up to 20 metres at maturity, it requires significant space. To help landscape designers and acreage owners establish these magnificent trees at scale, we are offering this highly limited 25-unit allocation at a seedling grade. This provides you with robust, field-grown root systems that have never been container-bound, at a price point that makes grand avenue or foundation planting highly accessible.
- Chestnut-Like Foliage: Challenges the traditional oak silhouette with long, serrated, chestnut-like leaves that add unique texture to large-scale plantings.
- Unbeatable Seedling Value: Offered at seedling grade, this is the most affordable line in the collection, allowing you to establish pristine, field-grown roots at volume.
- Clay Soil Tolerant: An incredibly rugged species that adapts well to a broad range of soil types, including the heavy clay sites that typically stunt other oaks.
- Winter Marcescence: The tawny brown-gold autumn leaves often persist on the branches through mid-winter, providing lasting architectural structure and wildlife shelter.
Establish Your Acreage Canopy
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Is this the same as a normal English Oak?
Why are these sold as "Seedling" grade?
Will this grow in heavy clay soil?
Can I ship this to Tasmania, Western Australia, or the Northern Territory?
Detailed Description and Specs
The Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima) is a medium-to-large deciduous oak belonging to the Fagaceae family. Native to China, Korea, and Japan, it offers a distinct departure from the traditional European oak aesthetic.
The tree derives its common name from its distinctively serrated, bristle-toothed leaf margins, which strongly resemble the foliage of a sweet chestnut. In autumn, the canopy turns a rich, tawny brown-gold. Exhibiting a semi-marcescent habit, the tree often holds onto these dried leaves late into the winter, providing excellent architectural structure and shelter for wildlife. It is also famous for its highly ornamental acorns, which sit in deep cups covered in long, curling, moss-like fringes. Growing to a broadly spreading 15–20m at maturity, this is not a small garden tree. It is a grand, rugged landscape feature. Our allocation of bare root seedling stock allows you to secure pristine, field-grown roots at an exceptional value, perfect for large-scale foundation plantings.
- Species: Quercus acutissima (Sawtooth Oak)
- Foliage: Oblong, chestnut-like leaves with serrated margins.
- Autumn Colour: Tawny brown-gold (holds late into winter).
- Acorns: Distinctive fringed, ornamental cups.
- Mature Scale: 15–20m tall and wide (Large spreading canopy).
- Best For: Acreages, parklands, avenues, and clay-heavy sites.
Care and Planting Guide
The Sawtooth Oak is a remarkably tough and adaptable tree that establishes vigorously from seedling bare root stock.
- Sunlight & Space: Requires full sun for optimal canopy development. This is a very large tree at maturity (15–20m spread); it must be planted in an open position away from house foundations, powerlines, and underground services.
- Soil & Drainage: Exhibits exceptionally broad soil adaptability. While it prefers moist, well-draining loams, it is highly tolerant of poor, compacted, and clay-heavy soils where other large shade trees struggle.
- Watering: Water deeply and consistently during the first two years to encourage the taproot to establish deeply. Once mature, it is moderately drought-tolerant.
- Planting Seedlings: Because these are supplied as bare root seedlings, it is vital to keep the root system moist between arrival and planting. Soak the roots for 12–24 hours before planting, and ensure the planting hole is well-mounded to support the young root structure.
Shipping and Delivery
Pre-Order — Dispatching Late July 2026
This is a pre-order product. Your tree will be dispatched in Late July 2026 — the optimal planting window for bare root deciduous stock. No charge is processed until dispatch confirmation is sent.
Eastern States (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA)
Eligible for standard shipping via our specialist plant freight network. Nationwide Trees holds BioSecure HACCP certification — the nationally audited commercial nursery biosecurity standard administered by Greenlife Industry Australia — providing legal self-certification of consignments for interstate dispatch to all Eastern States and ACT.
Tasmania (TAS)
Bare-root deciduous stock requires specialist Bass Strait biosecurity clearance. Due to the nature of bare root packaging — stick length varies significantly by species and grade — we are unable to confirm freight eligibility without reviewing your specific order. Please contact us before placing your order, and we will confirm availability, route, and freight costs for your destination.
Western Australia & Northern Territory (WA & NT)
Shipping to WA and NT requires mandatory agricultural inspection and treatment via our Plant Concierge Service. Bare-root stock dimensions may also affect available freight pathways for your destination. Please contact us before ordering — we will confirm treatment requirements, sizing eligibility, and provide a custom freight quote.
Lord Howe Island & Norfolk Island
We are unable to ship to Lord Howe Island or Norfolk Island under any circumstances.
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