Quercus canbyi
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Quercus alamarensis
- Quercus graciliformis
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus KAN-bee-eye
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Chisos Oak is a tardily deciduous red oak shade tree native to Texas and Mexico. It has a pyramidal form in youth and an open irregular shape at maturity. It normally reaches 40 to 50 feet tall but can grow up to 80 feet in Mexico. It has been grown successfully as far north as Springfield, IL. The glossy green leaves and slender elegant branches make it a nice shade tree. Once established it is drought tolerant.
The many varieties of Quercus serve as host plants for the larvae of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) as well as for a wide variety of butterflies, such as Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Edward's hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), White-m hairstreak (Parrhasius malbum), Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), and Juvenal's duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis).
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems; Susceptible to scales, orangestriped oakworm, buck moth, whitemarked tussock moth, and spider mites, Armillaria, Anthracnose and root rot are occasional problems. Dried fruits dropping on the ground can cause litter issues around hardscaped areas.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and insects.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- canbyi
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- TX and Mexico
- 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. Nuts attract birds and squirrels.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Irregular
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Acorn brown and yellowish 1/2" singly or in pairs with the cup covering 1/2 of nut, with nearly flat scales. Matures in 1 year from August to October;
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Separate male and female flowers on the same tree, inconspicuous. Male flowers in yellow catkins.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 6-8 inch long and 2-3 inch wide glossy leaves resembling holly are lanceolate to elliptic with pointed, bristle-tipped apex and base acute, obtuse or rounded. Margins have teeth that are bristle-tipped. Dark green on the upper sides and yellow-green underneath. Fall color may have red tones.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Green
- Bark Description:
- Bark brown-green, smooth, becoming dark grey and warty
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Lenticels:
- Not Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are red-brown, shiny and thin becoming glabrous, with rare, inconspicuous lenticels. Terminal buds are red-brown, ovoid to conical.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Salt
- Problems:
- Messy
- Problem for Horses
