Silverleaf Oak, Whiteleaf Oak

This tree is definitely a lot more cold hardy than it states here. I know of a at least 35’ tree in a private garden in the suburbs of ...Read MoreSalt Lake City, Utah (zone 7b). It stays perfectly evergreen all year round, and has never ever had any sort of damage whatsoever for the many years it’s been there. Even in our toughest winters (around 8-10 F, and a good amount of snow).I’ve read many many places this broadleaf evergreen is hardy to more like zone 6b or 7a. Its natural range spans a pretty big area but it does tend to colonize in higher altitude mountainous regions of Arizona and other Southwestern states up to 7,000 feet. These areas get snow every winter and can get some really cold temperatures on occasion (around 0 F and even lower). This is by far the MOST beautiful of the evergreen oaks there is in my opinion *besides maybe Quercus virginiana*, and it is absolutely 100% hardy here in Utah long term. And that includes in very exposed open locations, with nothing protecting them from wind. When they are relatively young, around 20-25 feet or less it has a VERY similar look to an Olive tree, and that in my opinion is it’s best trait. You won’t find a better Olive look alike in zone 7a/6b anywhere. I greatly wish this oak was sold in every nursery here in Utah, and was planted as a street/commercial tree everywhere because it absolutely thrives here in the blistering heat and alkaline soil. They do MUCH better than any other oak that is commonly planted around here, and I can guarantee that. Most other oaks get pretty fried when our temps get above 105 F which is almost guaranteed every summer nowadays.