Quercus rubra 'HAAREN'

We are always utterly happy when we can introduce a plant which in its original form was too tall or wide for a common-size garden. But thanks to either special breeding or observant botanists who look for natural mutations, we can enjoy dwarf varieties of the former giants which manifest slower growth and much reduced size yet keeping their attractive features such as foliage or flowers.

Haaren is a Dutch addition to the group of dwarf trees. It is a dwarf red oak with foliage that is almost identical to that of Green Dwarf pin oak but the leaves are not so deeply cut. They are deciduous, fresh green in summer and brilliant carmine red in autumn. It naturally forms almost a globose habit.

Dwarf trees are commonly grafted onto short stems of 60-130 cm for a half-standard tree suitable for almost any spot in your garden including a patio pot, or 180-210 cm tall stem for a standard tree for a small-sized front yard or a narrow street. The plant itself can grow about 1.3 m so the total mature size is 1.3m plus the size of a stem it is grafted on. It can be pruned or shaped, ideally in late winter, but it is not necessary owing to slow growth.

Oaks are not fussy about soil type, but this one needs lime-free soil. In peat-based acid soil it will have showier colours in autumn. They do well in well-drained soil, moist is good but boggy is fatal. Once established they withstand drought and city pollution. Newly planted trees need to be staked for 2-3 years to establish. Fully hardy to -40°C (USDA zone 3).

Last update: 22-07-2020