We first fell in love with this tree in the 1980s upon seeing a collection from an expedition of Boyd Kline and Frank Callahan to northeastern Mexico. Our first up close and personal experience was on New Year's Day, seeing these exquisite 25 ft. tall by 15 ft wide trees in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeast Arizona where, under bright blue skies and with a few inches of snow on the ground, the dazzling silver undersides of the leaves reflected as if illuminated by spot light. Fast growing when young. The narrow leaves are very leathery and shiny and can age to maroon on the upper surface in cold temperatures. Sun, lean and well-drained soil and little summer water once established. Frost hardy to USDA zone 7; quite possibly low to mid USDA zone 6. Makes a striking garden specimen or street tree. Our favorite oak, really. SILVER OAK Fagaceae
