Quercus phillyreoides is a species of flowering plant in the genus Quercus, placed in subgenus Cerris and section Ilex. It is evergreen, withstands frost and can be grown in hardiness zone 7. It is native to southern China, the Ryukyu Islands, and Japan, and has been introduced to Korea.
Origin of Name In Japanese, the common name of Quercus phillyreoides is Ubamegashi. The origin of this name is uncertain. One theory asserts that ubame means 'old woman's eyes' (from uba = ‘old woman’ + me = ‘eye’; gashi = ‘oak’). This supposedly references the yellow-brown color of new leaves on the oak, although the connection to the eyes of old women is unclear.le Hardÿ de Beaulieu, A. & Lamant, T. (2010). Guide illustré des chênes Edilens, Geer A more widely accepted theory is that the 'me' in ubame derives from a homonym that translates to 'new buds/leaves'.Quercus phillyreoides A.Gray". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
Uses The Japanese use Quercus phillyreoides or ubame oak to produce binchōtan, a type of charcoal and a traditional variety of vegetal activated carbon. It has found use as a street tree in a number of European cities.
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