Research in Context
Tree species in the genus Quercus
Quercus cerris
Fagaceae
Distribution in Athens It is rare in Athens. At a linear park in the town of Gerakas in NE Attica. Also occurrences have been recorded (to be verified) at the Lycabettus hill.
Biomes temperate
Countries and regions (POWO Database)
Area of origin S. Central & S. Europe to Türkiye, Anti-Lebanon mountain range.
Countries and regions in the area of origin Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia-Slovakia, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, NW. Balkan Pen., Romania, Sicilia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe
Global Distribution (Introduced) Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, New York, New Zealand South, Poland.
Cities worldwide (GUTI Database)
Tree inventories around the world. It is listed in 68 inventories.
ASIA
Turkey: Karşıyaka
OCEANIA
Australia: Albury, Ballarat, Banyule, Boroondara, Brimbank, Burnside, Campbelltown, Canberra, Colac Otway Shire, Corangamite Shire, Darebin, Greater Bendigo, Hobson Bay, Knox, Launceston, Manningham, Melbourne, Mildura, Nedlands, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Whittlesea, Wyndham.
New Zealand: Christchurch
EUROPE
Austria: Vienna
Croatia: Zagreb
Denmark: Aarhus, Copenhagen
France: Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Mulhouse, Paris
Germany: Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg
Hungary: Budapest
Ireland: Cork, Fingal County, Wexford
Italy: Bologna, Florence, Merano, Prato
Netherlands: Assen, Doetinchem, Waalwijk
Portugal: Lisbon
Spain: Barcelona, Caseres
Sweden: Malmö
Switzerland: Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich
United Kingdom: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Camden, London, Sidmouth, Trafford, York
AMERICAS
Canada: New Westminster
USA:
OHIO Colombus
PENSYLVANIA Philadelphia
RHODE ISLAND Newport
WASHINGTON Seattle
Literature on climate resiliences of the species: Positively assessed by research projects and authors (Plante & Cité's Floriscope n.d., Sjöman and Anderson 2023). Also in southwest Germany there is currently a preference for for planting in urban and periurban forests among foresters and gardeners in anticipation of warmer and drier summers (Dr. Somidh Saha's comment on LinkedIn platform). Other aspects that have attracted research interest in the context of climate change:
- as an introduced species for climate-smart forestry and has been the subject of greenhose experiments (WSL. n.d.).
- carbon sequestration (Enescu et al 2026)
- its roots’ enzymatic activity in urban soils (Gillini et al 2024, Gillini et al 2025).
- timber wood
- production of activated carbons from its acorns (Çesko et al 2024).
References on Quercus cerris
Books
Αραμπατζής, Θεόδωρος Ι. 2001.
Θάμνοι Και Δέντρα Στην Ελλάδα.
Δράμα: Οικολογική Κίνηση Δράμας.
Dirr, Michael A. 2010.
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants : Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. 6. ed., rev., [repr.].
Champaign, Illinois: Stipes.
Sjöman, Henrik, and Anderson, Arit 2023.
The Essential Tree Selection Guide: For Climate Resilience, Carbon Storage, Species Diversity and Other Ecosystem Benefits.
London: Filbert Press
Strid, Arne, Stylianos Charalampidi, Panayotis Dimopoulos, and Thomas Raus. 2025.
Flora of the Athos Peninsula : Plant Life of the Holy Mountain.
Nicosia (Cyprus): Broken Hill Publishers LTD.
Research Projects with Plant Species Selection Databases
Plante & Cité
Floriscope, n.d.
https://www.floriscope.io/
'Quercus cerris' and cultivars
https://www.floriscope.io/plantes/quercus-cerris
Which Plant Where. (2026).
Whichplantwhere.com.au
'Quercus cerris'
https://www.whichplantwhere.com.au/plant/quercus-cerris
Research Institutions
de Rigo, D., Enescu, C. M., Houston Durrant, T., Caudullo, G., 2016.
Quercus cerris in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threats.
In: San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston Durrant, T., Mauri, A. (Eds.), European Atlas of Forest Tree Species.
Publ. Off. EU, Luxembourg, pp. e01b479+
https://ies-ows.jrc.ec.europa.eu/efdac/download/Atlas/pdf/Quercus_cerris.pdf
Botanic gardens, arboreta and parks
Oaktopia. n.d. About Dave - Apple Park.
https://www.oaktopia.org/about
https://www.oaktopia.org/oaklist#cerris
Plant Species websites
Coombes Allen & Cameron Roderick (2021)
Trees and Shrubs Online
'Quercus cerris'
https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/quercus/quercus-cerris/
SelecTree UFEI, Urban Forest Ecosystem Institute. California State Polytechnic University.
Select Tree, a Tree Selection Guide. (n.d.)
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/1231 (Quercus cerris)
Faust, Karolina (2024)
Waldwissen.net
Wald, Forstpraxis, Waldwirtschaft (description: Forestry research international platform)Kurzportrait Zerreiche)
https://www.waldwissen.net/de/
Kurzportrait Zerreiche (Quercus cerris L.).
https://www.waldwissen.net/de/waldwirtschaft/waldbau/kurzportrait-zerreiche-quercus-cerris
Encyclopedia Online
Monaco Nature Encyclopedia
Grossoni, Paolo (2024)
Professor (University of Florence)
translated to english by Mario Beltramini
'Quercus cerris'
https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/quercus-cerris/
https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/quercus-cerris/?lang=en (english translation)
Research Institutions
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL. n.d.
Polytunnel Greenhouse Experiment.
https://www.wsl.ch/en/projects/polytunnel-greenhouse-experiment/
Plant nurseries
Steinbach Baumschulen in Blaufelden. (2026, April 8).
Zerreiche (Quercus cerris) 15-30
https://www.baumschulen-steinbach.de/produkt/zerreiche-quercus-cerris-15-30/
Papers and Conference presentations
Gillini, A., Bilyera, N., Trupiano, D., Loginova, I., Dippold, M., and Scippa, G. S.:
Rooted in the city: Unveiling the hidden world of Quercus cerris enzymatic activity in urban soils ,
European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2024, Vienna,
Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-976
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU24/EGU24-976.html
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-976
Gillini, Anna & Bilyera, Nataliya & Sferra, Gabriella & Bucci, Antonio & Monaco, Pamela & Loginova, Iryna & Dippold, Michaela & Naclerio, Gino & Scippa, Gabriella & Trupiano, Dalila. (2025).
Insights into plant-microbe interactions in urban rhizosphere: feedback from Quercus cerris L. root morphology, soil zymography, and microbial community composition in rhizobox system.
Journal of Plant Interactions.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2025.2554974
Çesko, C., Geçgel, Ü., Koraqi, H. et al. 2024.
Production of activated carbons from Quercus cerris acorn shell under various experiment conditions, and their characterizations. Adsorption 30, 1467–1478 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10450-024-00517-z
Enescu, Cristian Mihai, Mircea Mihalache, Leonard Ilie, Lucian Dinca, Irina Sfeclă, Adrian Ioan Timofte, and Gabriel Murariu. 2026.
"Oak Forests as Long-Term Carbon Sinks: Carbon Sequestration Dynamics and Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Mitigation, Conservation, and Forest-Based Carbon Management"
Forests 17, no. 7: 776.
https://doi.org/10.3390/f17070776
Universities
TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE OSTWESTFALEN-LIPPE (TH- OWL)
UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND ARTS
Botanischer Garten.
Steckbrief zu Quercus cerris L. / Zerr-Eiche
https://botanischer-garten-hoexter.de/pflanze-quercus_cerris.html
Quercus robur ssp. peducunliflora
Fagaceae
Distribution in Athens At the town of Gerakas in the northern suburb of Pallini, a few specimens at a park and as a street tree.
Biomes temperate
Countries and regions (POWO Database)
Area of origin Europe to Iran.
Countries and regions in the area of origin
EUROPE
Albania, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Netherlands, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Sicilia, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus,Türkey-in-Europe, Ukraine
ASIA
Iran, Türkey
Global Distribution (Introduced)
AMERICAS
Canada (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward I.), USA (Colorado, New York, Kentucky).
EUROPE
Spain (Canary Islands), Portugal (Madeira)
AFRICA
South Africa (Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho)
OCEANIA
New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Réunion, St.Helena.
Cities worldwide (GUTI Database)
Tree inventories A popular urban tree species with presence in 163 inventories around the world:
OCEANIA: Australia, New Zealand
AMERICAS: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, USA
EUROPE: Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Ukraine,
ASIA: Israel, Turkey, Georgia
AFRICA: South Africa, Zimbabwe.
Literature references on the climate resilience of the species Sjöman and Anderson (2023), Oaktopia website lists, Floriscope.
References on Quercus robur
Books
Bean, W. J. 1863-1947.
Trees And Shrubs Hardy In the British Isles.
8th ed., fully revised;
Supplement by Desmond Clark (1988).
London: J. Murray, 19701980.
Dirr, Michael A. 2010.
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants : Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. 6. ed., rev., [repr.].
Champaign, Illinois: Stipes.
Sjöman, Henrik, and Anderson, Arit 2023.
The Essential Tree Selection Guide: For Climate Resilience, Carbon Storage, Species Diversity and Other Ecosystem Benefits.
London: Filbert Press
Plant Species Databases
Select Tree. UFEI.
Urban Forest Ecosystem Institute.
California State Polytechnic University.
'Quercus robur'
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/1256
Trees and Shrubs Online
(from the book by Bean, W. J.)
'Quercus robur'
https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/quercus/quercus-robur/
Research Projects with Plant Species Selection Databases
Plante & Cité
Floriscope, n.d.
https://www.floriscope.io/
'Quercus robur' and cultivars
https://www.floriscope.io/plantes/quercus-robur
Which Plant Where. (2026).
Whichplantwhere.com.au
'Quercus robur'
https://www.whichplantwhere.com.au/plant/quercus-robur
Botanic gardens, arboreta and parks
Common oak tree
https://www.kew.org/plants/oak-tree
Oaktopia
Oak species lists
https://www.oaktopia.org/oaklist#robur
Research Institutions
Casalegno, Stefano; Amatulli, Giuseppe; Camia, Andrea; Nelson, Andrew; Pekkarinen, Anssi; San Miguel-Ayanz, Jesús (2026).
Suitability maps of Quercus robur (ForestFocus).
JRC Data Catalogue - Dataset - European Commission, Joint Research Centre [Dataset]
https://data.jrc.ec.europa.eu/dataset/55e584aa-ca3b-429a-bc99-dfc1f936ea81
Eaton, E., Caudullo, G., Oliveira, S., de Rigo, D., 2016.
Quercus robur and Quercus petraea in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threats.
In: San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston Durrant, T., Mauri, A. (Eds.),
European Atlas of Forest Tree Species.
Publ. Off. EU, Luxembourg, pp. e01c6df+
https://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/media/atlas/Quercus_robur_petraea.pdf
News Media
Neill, Pippa & Ahmed, Safferah. (2026, August 19).
The Guardian.
England’s ancient oak trees dying in extreme hot and dry weather.
Papers
Bene, A., Vergine, M., Carluccio, G., Portaccio, L., Delle Donne, A. G., De Bellis, L., & Luvisi, A. (2025).
Acute Oak Decline-Associated Bacteria: An Emerging Worldwide Threat to Forests.
Microorganisms, 13(5), 1127.
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Quercus ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis
Fagaceae
Distribution in Athens In the parks of Ancient Agora, Dasos Syggrou, NTUA campus, monastery of Penteli. Its natural distribution in Greece extends to deciduous forests in the country's Mediterranean zone (Pantera et al, 2009).
Biomes subtropical
Countries and regions (POWO Database)
Area of origin SE. Italy, Balkan Peninsula to Syria.
Countries in the area of origin Albania, Bulgaria, East Aegean Is., Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, NW. Balkan Pen., Türkey, Türkey-in-Europe.
Cities worldwide (GUTI Database)
Tree inventories In two inventories in cities in Northern Greece: Arta, Ioannina In addition, it is present in another 6 inventories abroad: France (Bordeaux, Paris), Switzerland (Basel, Geneva), Israel (Karmiel, Tel Aviv).
Performance It seems to be performing well in parks. However the surroundings are more forest like than urban green. It seems to be self-reproducing and expanding in the ecosystems of Dasos Syggrou and the NTUA campus.
Literature references Oaktopia webite lists.
References on Quercus ithaburensis ssp. macrolepis
Papers
Pantera, Anastasia & Papadopoulos, Andreas & Fotiadis, Georgios & Papanastasis, V.. (2009).
Distribution and phytogeographical analysis of Quercus ithaburensis ssp. macrolepis in Greece.
Ecologia Mediterranea. 34. 73-82. 10.3406/ecmed.2008.1400.
Quercus pubescens
Fagaceae
Distribution in Athens At the city of Piraeus (Peace and Friendship Stadium) and the parks of Dasos Syggrou and NTUA Campus. It grows in forest areas in the mountains of Attica.
Biomes temperate
Countries and regions
Area of origin Europe to North Türkiye.
Countries in the area of origin Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, East Aegean Is., France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kriti, Krym, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Romania, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Switzerland, Türkey, Türkey-in-Europe, Ukraine
Global Distribution (Introduced) Poland
Cities worldwide
Tree inventories In 26 inventories.
OCEANIA: Australia
EUROPE: Austria (Vienna), Croatia (Zagreb), Denmark, France (Bordeaux, Lyon, Montpellier, Paris), Germany (Frankfurt, Hamburg), Hungary (Budapest), Italy (Bologna, Florence, Turin), Portugal (Lisbon), Spain (Barcelona, Valencia), UK (London), Switzerland (Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich).
Performance It appears to perform well and withstand extreme heat. However the seasonal change of leaves' color to brown may be a disavantage for further use in an urban setting. Maybe with an information campaign, it would be more acceptable to the general public.
Literature references There are references by researchers at the Liege University on the prospect of this species for forest plantings and the climate of the future. (Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, 2019)
References on Quercus pubescens
Universities
LIÈGE université, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, 2019.
“Carte blanche : « Quels arbres pour la forêt de demain?» ”.
Le Soir. Published, November 5, 2019.
https://www.gembloux.uliege.be/cms/c_5353333/en/carte-blanche-quels-arbres-pour-la-foret-de-demain
Quercus suber
Fagaceae
Distribution in Athens It is rare in the public spaces. However more specimen trees are expected to be found in private gardens as it is occasionally available at the large plant nurseries in Athens. In the borough of Dafni-Hymettos.
Biomes temperate
Countries and regions
Area of origin Western & Central Mediterranean.
Countries in the area of origin Algeria, Corse, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia
Global Distribution (Introduced) Baleares, Canary Islands.
Cities worldwide
Tree inventories In 68 inventories.
OCEANIA: Australia (Ballarat, Bathurst, Boroondara, Burnside, Canberra, Hobson Bay, Launceston, Melbourne, Mitcham, Moonee Valley, Nedlands, Perth, Port Phillip, South Perth, Stonnington, Wyndham), New Zealand (Christchurch),
EUROPE: France (Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Paris), Germany (Frankfurt am Main), Italy (Florence, Merano, Prato, Turin), Portugal (Lisbon), Spain (Barcelona, Caseres, Costa Brava, Valencia), UK (Bristol, Camden), Switzerland (Basel, Geneva).
AMERICAS: Argentina (Buenos Ayres), Canada (Guelph, Oakville), USA (Alameda County, Aurora, Austin, Berkeley, Cambridge, Claremont, Columbus, East Palo Alto, El Sobrante, Las Vegas-Clark County, Modesto, North Hollywood, Oakland, Pacoima, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Patterson, Pinole, Richmond, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Leandro, Santa Monica, Spokane, Tracy
ASIA: Israel (Tel Aviv)
AFRICAS: South Africa (Pretoria)
Literature references (Select Tree, n.d.) .
REFERENCES
RESEARCH PROJECTS
ARDEM PROJECT, INRAE
Ducatillion Catherine and Delorme, Sarah. 2022.
ARbres de Demain En Méditerranée (ARDEM) projet brochure. Villa de Thuret, INRAE.
https://jardin-thuret.hub.inrae.fr/content/download/6148/49641?version=1
INRAE, Jardin Botanique Villa Thuret. 2022
“Arbres de demain - Fiches espèces.” Modified on March 25, 2024.
https://jardin-thuret.hub.inrae.fr/actualites/presentation-des-fiches-especes
Maribel Carol-Aristizabal, Jérôme Dupras, Christian Messier, Rita Sousa-Silva. 2024.
“Which Tree Species Best Withstand Urban Stressors? Ask the Experts”.
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jan 2024, 50 (1) 57-75.
https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2023.026
BOOKS
Sjöman, Henrik, and Anderson, Arit 2023.
The Essential Tree Selection Guide: For Climate Resilience, Carbon Storage, Species Diversity and Other Ecosystem Benefits.
London: Filbert Press
ARTICLES
Association Internationale des Producteurs de l’Horticulture (AIPH)
Ferrini, Francesco. 2023.
“The right tree in the right place.” Interview by Maurizio Lapponi (October 1, 2023).
FLORACULTURE INTERNATIONAL.
https://aiph.org/floraculture/news/the-right-tree-in-the-right-place/
WEBSITES
Oaktopia. n.d. About Dave - Apple Park. Accessed January 31, 2024.
https://www.oaktopia.org/about
UFEI, Urban Forest Ecosystem Institute. California State Polytechnic University.
Select Tree, a Tree Selection Guide. (n.d.)
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/1263 (Quercus suber)