Why Plant Kindred Spirit® Oak?
Rising like a sentinel, the Kindred Spirit® Columnar Oak Tree will serve as a powerful vertical element in your landscape, providing structure and rugged good looks throughout the year. You can use this svelte but sturdy tree as a bold focal point, or plant a row of Kindred Spirit® Oaks to form a handsome property-defining screen or windbreak. An incredibly tough tree, it will sail through the worst wind and ice storms with practically no damage, and it will put up with poor compacted soils, summertime drought, and even occasional flooding. Whether you garden in the city or the country, you’ll find that this is one tree you can depend on to get the job done!
The original Kindred Spirit® Oak Tree has had over 40 years to prove its merits and has clearly shown itself to be a winner. In 1974, it was one acorn among one thousand planted by the legendary nurseryman, Earl Cully, of Jacksonville, Illinois. Cully had crossed the upright Columnar English Oak with our native Swamp White Oak in hopes of combining the best attributes of both. Out of the hundreds of seedlings that he grew from that pairing, only a few trees made the final cut. The elegant Regal Prince® Columnar Oak was the first introduction, and Kindred Spirit®—with an even tighter habit than its brother—was the second.
How to use Kindred Spirit® Oak in the landscape?
The Kindred Spirit® Columnar Oak Tree sports deep green leaves that exhibit none of the whitish powdery mildew that can afflict the foliage of its English Oak mother. The dark, leathery leaves present a rather somber, formal appearance—that is, until the wind makes them dance, exposing their pretty, pale silvery green undersides. In fall, the foliage turns gold to golden brown before dropping to reveal a strong framework of upswept branches.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
How To Plant Kindred Spirit® Oak
Plant your Kindred Spirit® Oak Tree in a sunny site in any kind of soil and supply it with regular water during the first couple of growing seasons. After it’s established, it will be quite drought tolerant, though constantly damp soils pose no problem either. From its American Swamp White Oak parent it inherited much improved cold hardiness over most English Oaks, and it was also graced with very sturdy, weather-resistant limbs, as the Swamp White Oak boasts the strongest wood of any of the Oaks. Due to its hybrid nature, it also possesses what is known as “hybrid vigor,” which means that with proper care and feeding, Kindred Spirit® Oak can be a fast-growing tree, at least throughout its younger years.
How To Water
Water twice weekly for the first 3-5 weeks; then water weekly for the remainder of the year until winter. When you water, water slowly and thoroughly. Watering needs may be altered due to extreme weather conditions.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant Food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant Food granular form on an annual basis each fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established as it gives your tree the nutrients it needs to produce lush new growth for the following spring.
How To Prune
With its tight growth habit. the Kindred Spirit Oak rarely needs any pruning!
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
