Quercus laevis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus LYE-viss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The native Turkey Oak can grow as a small tree or shrub. Its native habitat is dry sandy and well-drained soils on ridges in the southeastern coastal plain, such as Carolina bay rims, old beach dunes, early Cenozoic deposits of the Sandhills Province, or inland from the coastal plain on dry ridges and slopes over quartzite or other acidic rock types. It commonly occurs as an understory tree of long-leaf pine forests. It is often considered a weed tree. The stout, spreading branches form a broad, irregular-shaped crown. The foliage is deeply and narrowly lobed causing the leaves with 3 lobes to resemble a turkey foot. Leaves are deciduous, but the brightly colored fall foliage stays on the tree well into winter.
The height of 30-40 feet makes this tree able to be used as a shade for smaller yards in well-drained sites of the coastal and Piedmont areas. It is mildly resistant to browsing by deer and drought tolerant.
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).
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Oaks, in general, are susceptible to a large number of diseases, including chestnut blight, shoestring root rot, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, cankers, leaf spots, and powdery mildew. This tree is highly susceptible to oak wilt. Potential insect pests include scale, oak skeletonizer, leaf miner, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars and nut weevils.
NOTE: The non-native Quercus cerris is also called Turkey Oak.
- 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:
- laevis
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is used for fuel or rough construction.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South East U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- 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. Provides cover for wildlife and many birds and mammals eat the acorns.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Acorns are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Acorn is brown and 1 inch long with a cap that is thin, reddish-brown with fuzzy scales enclosing about 1/3 of nut. Fruits appear from September-October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Male flowers are in drooping elongated clusters. Female flowers are sessile or short-stalked in the axils of the leaves. Blooms appear in April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Deltoid
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 4 to 8 in. alternate, simple leaves with 3 to 7 bristle-tipped lobes. They are shiny green above and paler with a few red hairs along the midvein below. Fall color is red to red-brown and may last well into winter. Leaves hang perpendicular to the ground. The 3-lobed leaves resemble a turkey foot.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- Dark grey to black mature bark is deeply furrowed with irregular ridges, reddish inner bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Chestnut brown to grey stems with a few hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Salt
- Wind
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Horses
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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
