Cherry Bark Oak Quercus pagoda
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Q. falcata var. pagodafolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus puh-GOH-duh
- Description
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Cherrybark Oak is a native deciduous tree and one of the most highly valued red oaks in SE USA. It is common in the Carolinas and can grow to 130 feet in the wild with a straight trunk and is relatively fast-growing. Regular branching forms a broad round crown of glossy, dark green foliage. Fall color is yellow-brown and the leaves drop in autumn. Acorns take 2 years to mature on trees at least 25 years old. The leaf shape is pagoda-like.
It grows best in moist, well-drained bottomland sites, but is adaptable to drier sites in full sun to partial shade. Useful as a shade tree in large areas, street tree or naturalized spaces
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).
Pest: Cherrybark oak is susceptible to oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum). Heart rot in standing cherrybark oak trees generally is greater on poor sites than on good sites. Also susceptible to wood-boring insects and oak-tree galls. Hispidus canker (Polyporus hispidus) is common on cherrybark oak.
- 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:
- pagoda
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Excellent timber tree for furniture and interior finish. Due to cherrybark being very strong it is a desirable furniture wood.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Central & South East U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA. Found in the southeastern United States from Maryland to Florida and over west into Texas, also found north into Indiana and Illinois.
- 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. The Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatches, blue jays, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer and black bear.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire and moderately resistant to damage from deer.
- Edibility:
- Acorns can be eaten once the tannins have been leached or boiled out.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 90 ft. 0 in. - 130 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- This tree produces a 1/2" acorn with an orange-brown, hairy, scaly cap that covers about 1/3 of the nut. The acorn requires two growing seasons to reach maturity. Matures September to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Produces small, yellow-green, cylindrical, male flowers and small green female flowers on spikes. Blooms April to May
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are about 5-8" long and 3-5" across and have with 5-11 lobes which are acute and bristle tipped with shallow sinuses. When viewed upright it is said to resemble a Chinese pagoda. The upper leaf surface is dark green and glabrous, while the lower leaf surface is greyish-white and densely covered with fine star-shaped hairs. Leaves turn yellow-brown before falling in the autumn.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The bark is initially smooth but develops small scaly ridges which are quite rough. The mature bark resembles a cherry tree.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are rather stout, reddish-brown to grey, usually hairy when young and becoming smooth as the tree matures.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
