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Quercus hemisphaerica

Phonetic Spelling
KWER-kus hem-is-FEER-ih-ka
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Darlington Oak is an evergreen to a tardily deciduous native oak tree which grows rapidly to 60 feet or more and has a life span of about 50 years. In nature, it can be found in sandhills, dry hammocks, and other dry, sandy soils. It makes a good shade or street tree, is moderately salt-tolerant and prefers dry sandy soils.

The leaves generally stay on the tree until new leaves are formed in spring. The acorns are biennial and loved by wildlife. It is a great tree for use in naturalized areas.

The relatively short life span of the tree and its susceptibility to diseases and rot with maturity make it somewhat less desirable for home use. However, it does grow fast to provide quick shade.

Consider Planting: Q. virginiana for better longevity. See other native oaks listed to the left for the southeastern USA.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Laurel Oak disease, a fungal pathogen identified in 2000, is deadly for this tree. Mites, gall wasps, leaf miners, and tent caterpillars can occur. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#shade tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#native tree#moth caterpillar host#salt tolerant#spring flowers#street tree#small mammals#fast growing#NC native#deer resistant#acorns#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#sandy soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#partial shade tolerant#problem for horses#Audubon#banded hairstreak butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#imperial moth#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly#edward’s hairstreak butterfly#white-m hairstreak butterfly#horace’s duskywing butterfly#coastal plant#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#shade tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#native tree#moth caterpillar host#salt tolerant#spring flowers#street tree#small mammals#fast growing#NC native#deer resistant#acorns#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#sandy soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#partial shade tolerant#problem for horses#Audubon#banded hairstreak butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#imperial moth#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly#edward’s hairstreak butterfly#white-m hairstreak butterfly#horace’s duskywing butterfly#coastal plant#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Quercus
    Species:
    hemisphaerica
    Family:
    Fagaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used for firewood or pulpwood.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South East U.S.A. to Texas
    Distribution:
    AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TX , VA
    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 deer. Acorns are an important food source for wildlife. Oaks are a host plant for moths and butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Wildlife Nesting
    Edibility:
    Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Poisonous
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Pyramidal
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    1/2 inch long dark brown stemless acorns are biennial and have a gray cup with scales covering up to 1/3 of the nut.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Male flowers are produced in drooping greenish catkins. Female flowers are sessile or shore stalked.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    2-5 inch long by 1-1.5 inch wide leaves are leathery, shiny and dark green. Undersides are paler. The margins are entire and the base is rounded. They fall about the time new leaves start emerging.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Ridges
    Bark Description:
    The bark is dark brown with deep furrows producing flat ridges on mature trees. Young trees have smooth gray-brown bark.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Bud Terminal:
    Cluster of terminal buds
    Stem Lenticels:
    Not Conspicuous
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are light brown to gray, hairless, with small lenticels. Buds are reddish-brown.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Lawn
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Humidity
    Salt
    Problems:
    Frequent Disease Problems
    Messy
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Horses
    Short-lived
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits
    Leaves