Sawtooth oak, a tree native to eastern Asia, is popular for use in street tree plantings due to its interesting foliage and fruits (acorns). It spreads by seed that is produced in large numbers and has been found in recent years to be escaping from plantings to become invasive in wild areas, displacing native plants. Because of this, land managers recommend against the use of sawtooth oak and suggest instead that landscapers use native oaks, of which there are many species to choose. One observer noted that it readily seeds into woodland edges, meadow habitats and open areas. Sawtooth oak successfully establishes in edge habitats that are not managed by mowing or other woody plant control. With regular, annual and semiannual mowing it does not seem to persist. If not mowed, however, it is fast growing, tolerant of a wide range of moisture and temperature conditions and can become a troublesome invasive. Do not plant sawtooth oaks. If small, pull seedlings or treat leaves with glyphosate. To control large trees: cut tree and grind stump; girdle, hack and squirt glyphosate; or cut and paint stump with glyphosate. Alternative plants include shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), red oak (Quercus rubra) and many other lovely native trees.

Quercus acutissima var. macrocarpa X.W. Li & Y.Q. Zhu:
China (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Quercus acutissima Carruth.:
Burma (Asia)
Bhutan (Asia)
Cambodia (Asia)
India (Asia)
Japan (Asia)
Nepal (Asia)
South Korea (Asia)
Thailand (Asia)
Vietnam (Asia)
China (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, SE Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, Cambodia, NE India, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, N Thailand, Vietnam]

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Himalaya (Kumaun to NEFA), Burma, S.W. China (Yunnan), Indo-China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan.

Sawtooth oak is native to eastern Asia but was introduced into the eastern United States around 1920. The range of adaptation extends from Northern Florida west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma, northward through Missouri to New York and into southern New England. On exposed sites in the northern Finger Lakes Region of New York, it may winterkill. Sawtooth oak is winter hardy and can be grown in soils from sandy loam to clay loam. However, the best performance is achieved in deep, well-drained soils. It can also be grown on reclaimed surface mined land where favorable moisture conditions are present and pH is above 5.0.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Trees to 30 m tall, deciduous. Young branchlets 1.5-2 mm, yellowish gray tomentose, glabrescent, yellowish gray with age, lenticellate; lenticels yellowish brown. Petiole 1-3(-5) cm, tomentose, glabrescent; leaf blade narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 8-19 × 2-6 cm, concolorous, tomentose, glabrescent or only veins abaxially tomentose with age, base rounded to broadly cuneate, margin with spiniform teeth, apex long acuminate; secondary veins 13-18 on each side of midvein, fusing at serration; tertiary veins abaxially slender, evident, ± parallel. Cupules on previous year’s branchlets, 1 or 2, cupular to discoid, 1.9-4.2 cm in diam. including bracts, enclosing 1/4-1/2 of nut; bracts subulate to ligulate, ca. 1.5 , reflexed, canescent. Nut ovoid to ellipsoid, 1.5-2 × 1.7-2.2 cm, apex impressed; scar ca. 1 cm in diam., raised; stylopodium ca. 4 mm in diam., pale grayish brown sericeous. Fl. Mar-Apr, fr. Sep-Oct of following year.

Quercus acutissima var. depressinucata H. W. Jen & R. Q. Gao; Q. acutissima var. septentrionalis Liou; Q. lunglingensis Hu.

Deciduous forests; below 100-2200 m.

One year old seedlings should be planted 15-20 feet apart for maximum acorn production. In areas where multiple rows are used, the spacing should be no less than 20 feet apart. There should be at least 15 plants per planting for effective wind pollination. Site preparation consists of clearing the existing vegetation from an area at least 3 feet in diameter around the newly planted seedling. The seedling should be planted at the same depth it was growing at in the nursery. At the bottom of the hole, apply a handful of 10-10-10 or 18-8-3 fertilizer pellets. Cover the pellets with 2-3 inches of soil. Do not allow the seedling to come in contact with the fertilizer. Water and mulch immediately to conserve water and discourage weeds.

If planting by acorns, begin in the early fall. Plant acorns 3/4-1 inch deep. The seedlings should not be transplanted until they reach 12-18 inches in height.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1

Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

‘Gobbler’ was released in 1986 by the Quicksand Plant Materials Center in cooperation with the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Kentucky Division of Forestry. It was selected for resistance to insects and disease, wildlife food value, and growth form compared to similar use species. Plant materials are available from nurseries throughout the region.

To achieve desired results, keep competition to a minimum for 2 years. By this time, the seedlings should be well established. If growth is stunted, eliminate competition and apply a complete fertilizer.

Sawtooth oak seedlings do not do well in poorly drained soils or in areas subject to flooding. If under water for 24 hours in the summer, they will not survive.

This plant has been found to be resistant to disease and insect damage.

The primary use for this species is as a wildlife food source and cover. It is also a good shade tree.

Comments: Exotic in N. America n. of Mexico.