The Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is a medium sized, evergreen oak tree native to southern Europe and north Africa.

It forms a thick rugged and corky bark. Over several years this bark can develop considerable thickness, and this is harvested as cork. The harvesting of cork does not harm the tree and a new layer of cork regrows making it a renewable resource. The tree is widely cultivated in Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Morocco, France, Italy and Tunisia. Cork oak forests cover approximately 2.5 million hectares in those countries. Portugal accounts for 50% of the world cork harvest. Cork oaks cannot be legally be cut down in Portugal except for forest managment felling of old unproductive trees.

Cork oaks live about 150-250 years. Virgin cork (or male cork) is the first oak cut from generally 25 year-old trees. Another 9 years is required for the second harvest. A tree can be harvested a dozen times in its lifetime. Cork harvesting is done entirely without machinery.

The European cork industry produces 340,000 tons of cork a year with a value of 1.5 billion Euros while employing 30,000 people. Wine corks represent 15% of cork usage by weight but 66% of revenues.

Cork is sometimes planted as individual trees providing a minor income to their owners. The tree is also sometimes cultivated as an ornamental. It is the parent of some hybrid oaks.

Some cork is also produced in eastern Asia from the related Chinese cork oak (Quercus variabilis).

Photo taken in botanic garden in Christchurch, New Zealand

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