Cork Oak (Quercus suber)

Scientific Name: Quercus suber, commonly called the Cork Oak.

Native Home: The Mediterranean region, especially Spain, Portugal, Italy, and North Africa.

Height: Can grow up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall.

Lifespan: Can live for 200–300 years, with some trees surviving even longer.

Uses and Harvesting

Cork Bark: Produces thick, spongy bark that can be harvested without cutting down the tree.

Harvesting: Cork is carefully stripped from the trunk by hand, allowing the bark to grow back.

Age to Harvest: First cork harvest usually occurs after around 20–25 years.

Products: Used for wine bottle stoppers, flooring, insulation, shoes, bags, and other products.

History and Global Production

Traditional Use: Mediterranean communities have harvested cork for thousands of years for containers, fishing equipment, and other uses.

Global Spread: Portugal and Spain are the world's major cork producers, supplying most of the global cork market.