Oaks come in sizes from shrubs to large trees and can be evergreen or deciduous. There are at least 450 species within the genus which is in the beech family. Many are native to North America but many species are found in Europe and Asia. They can be ornamental or lumber trees and many provide wildlife value. The genus name, Quercus , is from the Classical Greek name for oak trees. The alternate, simple leaves vary greatly in shape depending on the species and margins can be lobed, toothed or smooth. Some trees display colorful leaves in the fall and many hold onto their leaves into winter. The separate male and female flowers are borne in catkins and clusters in spring and the fruit is a nut called an acorn that usually has a cap. Oaks can be found in wet to dry sites, in mountains and the coastal areas, in fact just about anywhere you live there is an oak suitable for you. Planting native oaks is one of the best things you can do for the preservation of wildlife. They attract a lot of caterpillars which is just what baby birds need. They provide food for butterflies and moths, mammals and waterfowl. In addition to all this, they provide nesting and cover sites. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth ( Eacles imperialis ) , as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak ( Satyrium calanus ) , Edward's hairstreak ( Satyrium edwardsii ) , Gray hairstreak ( Strymon melinus ) , White-m hairstreak ( Parrhasius malbum ) , Horace's duskywing ( Erynnis horatius ) , and Juvenalis duskywing ( Erynnis juvenalis ) Use our Find a Plant search engine to find the right oak for you. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and insects.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are simple and alternate. The shape and size vary as to the species. Margins can be lobed, toothed or smooth. Fall color varies from none to reds, yellows or orange.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Catkin
Flower detail
Pollen flowers in drooping, elongated clusters.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit detail
Acorns vary in size and shape depending on the species.
Bark color
Black; Dark Gray
Bark detail
The bark is gray and scaly or blackish and furrowed.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Twigs are slender with a star-shaped pith.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Temp. Northern Hemisphere to Malesia and Colombia
Distribution
Throughout and cultivated
Wildlife value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Acorns provide food to birds and mammals. The tree provides shelter to birds and mammals. They are host plants to moths and butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Cover/Habitat; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Nuts
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out.