Dwarf Live Oak Quercus minima

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Quercus

  Species:

  minima

  Family:

  Fagaceae

  Life Cycle:

  Woody

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Layering

  Root Cutting

  Seed

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  SE USA

  Distribution:

  AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , TX

  Fire Risk Rating:

  low 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. Birds and small mammals use the nuts from this tree as a food source.

  Play Value:

  Wildlife Food Source

  Wildlife Larval Host

  Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):

  Particularly resistant to drought and fire in the landscape.

  Dimensions:

  Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Native Plant

  Perennial

  Shrub

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Semi-evergreen

• 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:

  Sand

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Occasionally Dry

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Fruit Type:

  Nut

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  Pale brown acorn about 2/3" long. Cup has gray scales and covers 1/2 of the nut.

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Gold/Yellow

  Green

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Description:

  Male catkins are yellow-green.

• Leaves:

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Semi-evergreen

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Alternate

  Leaf Shape:

  Oblanceolate

  Obovate

  Leaf Margin:

  Entire

  Lobed

  Hairs Present:

  No

  Leaf Length:

  3-6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Description:

  Leaves are alternate, 3-5 inches long, and toothless or with irregular teeth or lobes. Lobes, when present, are usually spine-tipped. Base cuneate, apex acute to rounded. Leaves persist through winter then drop off prior to new leaves forming. Undersides light green and glaucous.

• Bark:

  Bark Color:

  Light Brown

  Light Gray

  Bark Description:

  Smooth, brown to light gray

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Gray/Silver

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Surface:

  Smooth (glabrous)

  Stem Description:

  Light gray, smooth twigs in the second year. Small roundish bud, dark brown to grayish-brown scales.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Coastal

  Container

  Naturalized Area

  Pond

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Butterfly Garden

  Cutting Garden

  Drought Tolerant Garden

  Native Garden

  Nighttime Garden

  Pollinator Garden

  Winter Garden

  Attracts:

  Butterflies

  Moths

  Pollinators

  Small Mammals

  Songbirds

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Drought

  Fire

  Storm damage

  Wind

  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