ABSTRACT
Oaks may be propagated readily from seed, but if this is collected from plants in cultivation, they are very likely to be hybrids. True-to-name plants can only be certain from wild collections and even hybridisation can sometimes occur. The size and complexity of the genus has led to numerous taxonomic proposals still ongoing and subject to disagreement and revision. From a taxonomic standpoint, the conventional view is that the genus is split into two main subgenera, Quercus, comprising the majority of species and Cyclobalanopsis, mostly evergreen species found in Asia from the western Himalayas to eastern and south eastern Asia, including some sub-tropical and tropical areas. Little information is available regarding suitable grafting combinations for the subgenus Cyclobalanopsis. Two reasonably hardy species for southern/midlands regions of the UK are Quercus myrsinifolia and Q. schottkyana. Winter/spring grafting is popular with many, while others favour summer/autumn grafting.
