Quercus cerris, commonly known as Turkey Oak, is a large deciduous tree native to mixed forests and woodland edges in southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. It can grow up to 131 feet tall with a trunk diameter of up to 7 feet. The tree is characterized by its deeply furrowed dark gray bark and glossy, dark green leaves with triangular lobes. The leaves turn a yellow-brown in autumn before falling. Turkey Oak produces distinctive acorns that mature in 18 months; they are notable for their bicolored appearance, with an orange basal half and a darker tip.

Turkey Oak is valued for its stately form and is often used in landscape plantings, including as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens. It serves as an effective coastal windbreak due to its tolerance of harsh conditions. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade and adapts to a wide range of soil types, though it thrives best in well-drained soils. While it is drought-tolerant once established, young trees benefit from regular watering. This species can hybridize with cork oak, which may be a consideration for those looking to maintain species purity. Potential problems include susceptibility to powdery mildew and oak wilt, as well as the possibility of becoming invasive outside its native range due to its ability to hybridize and naturalize in new environments.CC BY-SA 4.0