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Quercus lyrata is often confused with:
Quercus x comptoniae Bark
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Quercus michauxii Form of tree (Brazoria County, TX)-Early Fall
Quercus montana Form
Quercus nigra Quercus nigra
Quercus lyrata has some common insect problems:
Common Insect Pests of Oak in North Carolina
Oak Pest Management Calendar
Quercus lyrata has some common disease problems:
Common Disease Pests of Oak in North Carolina

Water White Oak Quercus lyrata

Phonetic Spelling
KWER-kus ly-RAY-tuh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Overcup oak is a deciduous tree in the Fagaceae (oak) family native to central and southeast North America and can be found in the coastal and coastal plains of NC, although not abundantly. In spite of its natural occurrence where periodical flooding is typical, overcup oak grows well on sites with better drainage and soil texture. It gets its common name from the distinctive bur-like acorn cup that typically encloses 2/3 to almost all of the nut. This renders it buoyant in flood areas. Fall color is variable from yellow or brown to red.

Plant this tree in low lying areas or along streams, rivers or ponds in full sun to partial shade. It can be used as a shade tree. As most native oak trees, this is a high-value wildlife plant.  This tree is midly resistant to deer browsing.

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.  However, this tree is resistant to oak wilt. Potential insect pests include scale, oak skeletonizer, leaf miner, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars and nut weevils.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hardy#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#moth caterpillar host#spring flowers#fall interest#flowering tree#showy fruits#nuts#small mammals#moist soil#NC native#deer resistant#nighttime garden#native garden#floodplain#fruits fall#spring interest#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#fall color red#butterfly friendly#fruits early fall#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#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hardy#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#moth caterpillar host#spring flowers#fall interest#flowering tree#showy fruits#nuts#small mammals#moist soil#NC native#deer resistant#nighttime garden#native garden#floodplain#fruits fall#spring interest#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#fall color red#butterfly friendly#fruits early fall#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#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Quercus
    Species:
    lyrata
    Family:
    Fagaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used as firewood. Not a high-value lumber tree
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA. Found in all southeastern states, west to Texas and Oklahoma, and north to Illinois.
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds and small mammals eat the acorns. 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.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Wildlife Nesting
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    This tree is mildly resistant to damage by deer.
    Edibility:
    Poisonous
    Dimensions:
    Height: 35 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Poisonous
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Good Drainage
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Acorns produced annually. They are oval to oblong, .5 to 1 inch long with 1 - 2 acorns per stalk. The cup has grey pubescent scales and covers most of the nut. Produce seed at around 25-30 years. In North Carolina, the acorns are available from September to October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Pollen flowers in a drooping, elongated cluster. Male and female flowers are borne in separate catkins on the same tree. In North Carolina, flowers appear in March to April.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are 6 to 8 inches long, shiny dark green and wedge-shaped. Undersides are gray-green with hairs. Margins have 5-9 deeply rounded lobes. The variable fall color is yellow, brown or red.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Furrowed
    Ridges
    Bark Plate Shape:
    Irregular
    Bark Description:
    Bark is grey with deep furrows and scaly ridges or plates
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Scaly
    Stem Bud Terminal:
    Cluster of terminal buds
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Greyish pubescent twigs becoming smooth with age
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Water Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Erosion
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Problem for Horses
  • 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