Myrtle Oak Quercus myrtifolia
Previously known as:
- Quercus phellos var. arenaria
- Quercus phellos var. myrtifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus mir-ti-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
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Myrtle Oak is a small to medium drought-tolerant broadleaf evergreen tree in the Fagaceae (beech) family. It often grows shrubby and while it can reach a height of 15-20 feet high with an 8-10 foot spread it rarely gets taller than 8 feet with a trunk size of 2 to 3 inches in diameter. It is found in dry sandy soils of dunes, sandhills, and ridges with a western range limit of coastal Mississippi.
This is a low-maintenance plant that works well in any sunny locations in the landscape as an accent plant or the back of a shrub border. Its evergreen leaves provide winter interest in the landscape.
- 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:
- myrtifolia
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , FL , GA , MS , NC , SC
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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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:
- Biennial oval to round dark brown acorn up to 5/8 inch. The cap covers 1/4-1/3 of the nut.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Male flowers in catkins
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 2-inch long by 1 inch wide dark green leathery evergreen leaves are a lighter green to yellowish bloom underneath. Entire margins are rolled under and there is a bristle at the tip. Leaves persist on the tree until new leaves form in spring.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray and smooth, becoming furrowed with age
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Reddish-brown twigs with hairs. Oval buds that narrow to a point with reddish-brown scales
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Small Space
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
