Blackjack Oak Quercus marilandica

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Quercus

  Species:

  marilandica

  Family:

  Fagaceae

  Uses (Ethnobotany):

  Wood is used to make charcoal

  Life Cycle:

  Woody

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Seed

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Central and eastern U.S.A.

  Distribution:

  AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV

  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. Game birds and mammals eat the acorns. Birds and mammals use it for nesting.

  Dimensions:

  Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Native Plant

  Tree

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Habit/Form:

  Rounded

  Growth Rate:

  Slow

  Maintenance:

  Low

  Texture:

  Medium

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

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

  Soil Texture:

  Clay

  Loam (Silt)

  Sand

  Shallow Rocky

  Soil pH:

  Acid (<6.0)

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Occasionally Dry

  Occasionally Wet

  Available Space To Plant:

  12-24 feet

  24-60 feet

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Mountains

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Fruit Value To Gardener:

  Showy

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Winter

  Fruit Type:

  Nut

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  Up to 1 inch long striated, light brown acorn. The cap covers about half of the nut and is covered with loose, hairy scales.

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Gold/Yellow

  Green

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Catkin

  Insignificant

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Description:

  Yellow-green male catkins. Female flowers short spikes.

• Leaves:

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Leaf Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Green

  Leaf Feel:

  Leathery

  Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Gold/Yellow

  Red/Burgundy

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Alternate

  Leaf Shape:

  Obovate

  Leaf Margin:

  Lobed

  Hairs Present:

  Yes

  Leaf Length:

  > 6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  3-6 inches

  Leaf Description:

  4-8" long by 2½–6" across wedge-shaped green leaves are hairy and brown or orangish underneath. 3 poorly defined bristle tipped lobes near the end of the leaf. Red, yellow or brown fall color.

• Bark:

  Bark Color:

  Black

  Dark Brown

  Surface/Attachment:

  Bumpy

  Bark Plate Shape:

  Rectangle

  Bark Description:

  Dark rough bark in rectangular plates may appear black.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Buds:

  Hairy

  Stem Description:

  Stout, dark brown and hairy stems. Reddish-brown buds are 1/4 inch long, sharp, angled and fuzzy.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Naturalized Area

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Butterfly Garden

  Drought Tolerant Garden

  Native Garden

  Nighttime Garden

  Pollinator Garden

  Attracts:

  Butterflies

  Moths

  Pollinators

  Small Mammals

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Drought

  Dry Soil

  Poor Soil

  Problems:

  Problem for Horses

• Poisonous to Humans:

  Poison Severity:

  Low

  Poison Symptoms:

  Stomach pain, constipation and later bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination if uncooked leaves or fruit are eaten.

  Poison Toxic Principle:

  Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin

  Causes Contact Dermatitis:

  No

  Poison Part:

  Fruits

  Leaves