Small, medium to large sized trees, oaks thrive in most deep soils and some are lime tolerant. Although some are large trees once established, even gardens with limited space have room for a dwarf or columnar oak such as Quercus robur 'Pectinata' or Quercus palustris 'Green Pillar'.
Quercus robur, the common English oak, and its various forms are amongst the best trees for wildlife conservation. Over 300 species of insect live on our native oak, sustaining in turn a wide range of insectivorous birds and small mammals. Seed eating birds also benefit as they rely on insects for feeding their young.