Roble Plant Care

Roble (Nothofagus alpina) belongs to the Nothofagaceae family within the Nothofagus genus. Roble is native to the Andes. Roble is also known as Roble de la Cordillera, Chilean Oak.

Roble displays a tall, deciduous tree growth habit, reaching up to 100 ft tall with a spread of approximately 50 ft. Roble produces inconspicuous flowers, small clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Roble every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Roble thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Nothofagus alpina tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Roble prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining, acidic soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Roble to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Roble every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining, acidic soil with high organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Roble is suited to USDA Zone 7b – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Roble can spread to about 50 ft (15.2 m) and reach about 100 ft (30 m) tall. Space plants about 50 ft (15.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Roble while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Roble is hardy down to USDA zone 7b, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Roble can be propagated through seeds, hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to mountain beech plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Roble is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Roble grows outdoors in USDA Zone 7b – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 7b. Roble is native to the Andes.