Georgia oak is a rare deciduous red oak, native to the southeastern United States. It often grows shrubby in the wild and up to 50 feet tall. It is found on dry granite and sandstone outcrops of slopes of hills at 160-1,640 ft altitude. It is considered endangered in some areas. This oak is tolerant of a variety of soils as long as they are very well-drained and does best in full sun. This is a good shade tree for a smaller yard. 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 ) .
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)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 26 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Waxy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The margin is deeply cut by 2-5 pairs of triangular, pointed, bristle-tipped lobes. The leaf is shiny green, glabrous above and paler beneath with tufts of hairs along the veins. They are 2-4 inches long by 1-2 inches wide. Leaves persist into winter.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
Pollen flowers in drooping, elongated clusters
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Acorns are brown and rounded, appearing singular or in pairs. Cap is shallow and scaly. It takes 2 years to mature.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is grey or light brown, thin, almost smooth, slightly scaly.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Smooth red twigs with prominent light brown lenticels
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North Carolina to Northern Alabama
Distribution
AL , GA , SC, NC
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. Mildly resistant to damage by deer. Acorns are a favorite of quail, turkey and songbirds
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
Acorns are edible once the tannin has been boiled or leached out.