Quercus variabilis

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Quercus

  Species:

  variabilis

  Family:

  Fagaceae

  Uses (Ethnobotany):

  Bark can be used for cork production

  Life Cycle:

  Woody

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Seed

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Asia

  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 damage.

  Edibility:

  Acorns can be eaten after the tannin is leached or boiled out.

  Dimensions:

  Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 60 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Poisonous

  Tree

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Habit/Form:

  Erect

  Open

  Growth Rate:

  Slow

  Maintenance:

  Medium

  Texture:

  Medium

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

  Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

  Soil Texture:

  Clay

  Loam (Silt)

  Sand

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Moist

  Occasionally Dry

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Mountains

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Fruit Type:

  Nut

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  The 5/8 inch brown acorn is round and two-thirds enclosed in the cup, which is densely covered in soft 'mossy' bristles. Matures in 2 years.

• Flowers:

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Catkin

  Insignificant

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Description:

  Male flowers appear as drooping catkins, female flowers in clusters.

• Leaves:

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  White

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Opposite

  Leaf Shape:

  Lanceolate

  Ovate

  Leaf Margin:

  Serrate

  Hairs Present:

  Yes

  Leaf Length:

  > 6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Description:

  The 6-inch leaves are elongate with serrate margin and white pubescence on the underside. Each leaf has 13-18 pairs of parallel side veins each of which ends at the leaf margin in a tiny bristle-like tooth. Young trees hold their leaves into winter.

• Bark:

  Bark Color:

  Light Gray

  Surface/Attachment:

  Ridges

  Bark Description:

  The yellowish-gray bark is thick and corky with deep fissures and marked by sinuous ridges

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Gray/Silver

  Green

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Bud Terminal:

  Cluster of terminal buds

  Stem Cross Section:

  Round

  Stem Surface:

  Smooth (glabrous)

  Stem Description:

  Twigs are olive-brown to pale brown, almost hairless, somewhat shiny, becoming grey-brown with age.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Lawn

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Butterfly Garden

  Nighttime Garden

  Pollinator Garden

  Design Feature:

  Shade Tree

  Specimen

  Street Tree

  Attracts:

  Butterflies

  Moths

  Pollinators

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Deer

  Drought

  Problems:

  Problem for Horses