Laurel Oak Quercus laurifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Laurel Oak:
Previously known as:
- Lithocarpus korthalsii
- Quercus hemisphaerica
- Quercus obtusa
- Quercus phellos var. laurifolia
- Quercus succulenta
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus law-ree-FOH-lee-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Laurel Oak is a semi-evergreen to a deciduous shade tree in the red oak family that is native to the southeastern U.S.A. from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas. In North Carolina, it can be found in moderately dry to seasonally flooded soils of floodplains and swamp margins in the Piedmont and coastal plain areas. It generally grows 40-60 feet tall and rarely to 100 feet with a dense rounded crown. Acorns may be produced as early as 15 years of age.
Laurel Oak is adaptable to various soil types even poorly drained clay soil. It will grow in full sun to partial shade. Use this tree as a shade tree in lawns or parks.
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: This oak grows very rapidly and can have problems with weak wood, especially in high winds.
- 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:
- laurifolia
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A. to TX
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , PA , 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. Birds and mammals use the nuts from this tree as a food source. Birds and small mammals use this tree for nesting.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wildlife Nesting
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- 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:
- 1/2 to 2/3 inch long round dark brown and striated acorn. The scaly cap is usually shallow but may cover up to 1/3 of the acorn. Matures in 2 years.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Male catkins are yellow-green. Female flowers are small reddish spikes.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The 3-5 inch long and 1.5 inch wide elliptic to oblong leathery leaves are glossy green with paler undersides. Margins entire with shallow lobes. The leaves last into winter in warmer climates.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- Dark brown and initially smooth. Develops shallow fissures with flat, rough ridges at maturity.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Slender, light reddish-brown, smooth, buds are sharp-pointed reddish-brown and clustered at twig ends.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
- Weak Wood
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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:
- Gallotannin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
