IN THE TREE NURSERY: THE OAK

Botanically, the most significant deciduous tree genus of the Northern Hemisphere, with its 400 to 600 species, belongs to the beech family and ranks among the oldest forest inhabitants. Fossil pollen findings indicate that oaks were already growing in what is now Austria during the Tertiary period, roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. As an evolutionary Methuselah, the oak has played a crucial role in the adaptation of various species over time. Many butterflies have specialized in Quercus, and depending on the source, oaks provide a habitat for anywhere between 100 and 500 insect species.

WHEN PIGS PILLAGE THE FOREST

Unintentionally, the oak tree also served as a food source for domestic pigs until the 19th century. Herdsmen would drive their pigs into the forest for what was known as ‘acorn fattening.’ This practice not only shaped the appearance of the pigs—who closely resembled their wild relatives—but also transformed the forest itself. With a voracious appetite, the pigs devoured acorns, beechnuts, and chestnuts, effectively preventing natural forest regeneration by consuming the seeds of young trees before they could sprout. As a result, pastured forests took on the appearance of open, bright groves, sparsely populated with large, wide-canopied trees. Yet, the oak benefited from this practice—otherwise, it might have been outcompeted by the shade-tolerant and faster-growing European beech in many regions.

THE SYMBOL OF LIFE AND NATION

Not only pigs enjoyed acorns: For centuries, and especially in times of hardship—such as during World War II—acorns were ground into flour or roasted as a coffee substitute. Long before that, the oak nourished not only the human body but also the soul. Both the Celts and the ancient Greeks and Romans considered the oak sacred, while in Christian culture, it was revered as the tree of life and a symbol of the faithful Virgin Mary.

Oaks often served as places of justice, and following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, they were deliberately planted as peace trees. Conversely, the oak became entrenched as a German national symbol through the literary influence of poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724–1803). Its imagery—oak leaves, wreaths, and acorns—adorned coins and insignia, including those of Hitler’s NSDAP, the Wehrmacht, and the SS, as well as later the Bundeswehr.

A far more life-affirming use of the oak came through the legendary initiative of German artist Joseph Beuys (1921–1986). As part of documenta (1982–1987), he led a campaign in which 7,000 oaks were planted in Kassel with the help of the local population. His motto, ‘Urban Foresting Instead of City Administration,’ continues to shape the cityscape to this day.

THE HARD FACTS

• Type: Deciduous tree, occasionally evergreen
• Family: Beech family (Fagaceae)
• Native to: Eurasia, North Africa, North, Central, and South America, Caribbean
• Maximum height: ~25 meters
• Maximum trunk diameter: ~9 meters
• Maximum lifespan: Over 1,000 years
• Nutrient & water demand: Low, very light-demanding
• Wood characteristics: Warm yellow-brown tone with a lively texture
• Suitable for: Furniture, shipbuilding, winemaking (barrels), flooring
• Notable feature: White oak is the dominant species in Europe
• At Mareiner, transformed into: Wall panels & design boards Eiger und Jungfrau, Flooring Simplon, Furkapass, St. Bernard, Stelvio and Galibier (original Altholz)