Cork tree

What is a cork tree?

Cork is the outer bark of the Cork Oak tree, Quercus Suber. Cork oaks are found in forests surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Portugal is the worlds largest cork producer, but Cork Oaks are also cultivated in Spain, Italy, France, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. Cork is easily stripped from...

What is uncorked Cork?

Cork is extracted from cork oak trees without ever harming the tree, or being detrimental to its normal development. This is called uncorking which, in short, means removing its outer layer, where all the “corky” goodness is. After the extraction, the cork oak simply produces a new layer of bark with the same thickness and properties.

Can I cut down a cork oak tree in Portugal?

In Portugal the cork oak tree is considered national heritage, and is protected by law. It cannot be cut down without a written permit from the authorities and, even so, it must be diseased, dead or really old and unproductive. As a protected tree, its harvesting is highly supervised and the rules very strict.

What is the lifespan of a cork oak tree?

It is named Quercus Suber L but is most commonly known as the Cork Oak tree. It lives, on average, 200 years. The Cork Oak Tree is an evergreen medium-sized oak that has a thick corky bark, periodically harvested to produce marketable cork.

What tree does Cork come from?

Cork oak, Quercus suber, the tree from which most cork is harvested. Chinese cork oak, Quercus variabilis, a tree from which cork is occasionally harvested.

What does a cork oak tree look like?

Cork oak trees ( Quercus suber) are native to the Western Mediterranean region, and are still cultivated there for their bark. These trees are slow-growing giants, eventually maturing to 70 feet (21 m.) or taller and equally wide. Woody and upright, cork oaks in the landscape have small, rounded leaves that are gray underneath.

What is cork bark made of?

They are often made from the bark of cork oak trees, hence the name. The thick bark is stripped off the living trees of this unique oak species, and the trees regrow a new layer of bark. For more cork oak information, including tips about growing a cork oak tree, read on.

Where do cork oak trees grow in the US?

Cork Oaks in the Landscape. Cork oak trees (Quercus suber) are native to the Western Mediterranean region, and are still cultivated there for their bark. These trees are slow-growing giants, eventually maturing to 70 feet (21 m.) or taller and equally wide.

Is it illegal to cut down a cork tree in Portugal?

It all starts with Portugal’s national tree, protected by a strict law that makes it illegal to cut down any cork tree in Portugal without permission from the government.

What is Cork and why is it good for Portugal?

The best thing about cork, aside from being a good earner for Portugal, is that it’s sustainable. The trees aren’t cut down or damaged when the cork is harvested, and they can be harvested every 9 years for the lifetime of the tree (roughly 270 years).

What is the proper name for a cork tree?

Whats the proper name for a cork tree? The evergreen cork oak has the delicious official name of Quercus suber. Portugal produces half the worlds cork, and is responsible for around 70% of the trade. Around 28% of the forests in Portugal comprise of cork, which is around 8% of the area of the country.

How many stoppers does a cork oak tree produce?

The average cork oak tree produces one tonne of raw cork which equates to 65,000 stoppers. One particular tree in Portugal, known as the Whistler Tree because of the many singing birds attracted to it, is said to be 212 years old.