Blackjack Oak is a native medium-sized tree or shrub found in central and eastern USA and all areas of NC except the higher elevations. It is found in fields, woodland edges and dry ridges of barren areas. It grows 30 -50 feet tall with a short trunk and multiple contorted branches and a rounded crown. It is often found in areas where other trees will not grow due to poor soil. Blackjack Oak prefers average to dry well-drained soils in full sun. They do not tolerate poorly drained soils. This tree is rarely used in the landscape and is best in naturalized or woodland settings. 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.
Often confused withQuercus x bushiiQuercus x rudkinii
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Obovate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
4-8" long by 2½–6" across wedge-shaped green leaves are hairy and brown or orangish underneath. 3 poorly defined bristle tipped lobes near the end of the leaf. Red, yellow or brown fall color.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
Yellow-green male catkins. Female flowers short spikes.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Up to 1 inch long striated, light brown acorn. The cap covers about half of the nut and is covered with loose, hairy scales.
Bark color
Black; Dark Brown
Bark detail
Dark rough bark in rectangular plates may appear black.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Stout, dark brown and hairy stems. Reddish-brown buds are 1/4 inch long, sharp, angled and fuzzy.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and eastern U.S.A.
Distribution
AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
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. Game birds and mammals eat the acorns. Birds and mammals use it for nesting.