This evergreen tree has a stout purplish-brown trunk with wrinkly bark and thick spreading branches that form a compact rounded crown. It has glossy dark green lance-shaped leaves and produces yellowish pendant catkins in spring followed by acorns.

Hardiness zones 7 to 9 

Quercus myrsinaefolia is naturally found from southern China to Japan where it grows from Honshu to Shikoku and Kyushu in protected warm locations in mountain forests at an altitude from 200 to 2,500 m (7,800 ft). 

It prefers an open sunny to slightly expose positions and grows in well-drained deep fertile moist medium loams to heavy clay soils and tolerates a lime base but prefers an acidic soil. It is frost tolerant but drought tender.

Shira-kashi is a grown for its foliage and rounded habit. It is planted in parks and gardens as a specimen or used in protected woodland settings. It is suitable for inland and low mountain regions establishing in 3-5 years and is long-lived. It is also planted as a wind break but will not tolerate coastal conditions and is used as a foundation plant in Japanese gardens. ID 2664

Note:
This plant is not commonly cultivated and may be difficult to obtain requiring a specialist nursery.

Quercus (KWER-kus) myrsinaefolia (mer-SIN-eye-FOH-lee-ah )

Fagaceae (fag-AY-see-e)
Beech, Oaks and Sweet Chestnuts