Quercus x bushii
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Marilandica x velutina
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus BUSH-ee-eye
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Bush oak is a native deciduous tree in the red oak family (Fagaceae) and is a naturally occurring hybrid between Q. marilandica and Q. coccina or sometimes some other red oak. It is found in the central and eastern United States in poor, shallow soils of glades, barrens and flatwoods, dry slopes and ridges. Charles Sargent named it after American botanist Benjamin Franklin Bush (1858–1937), who discovered in Oklahoma in 1895.
Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. It will grow up to 65 feet tall and 50 feet wide with a dense, broad oval crown. It is drought-tolerant once established. It can be propagated from seeds or cuttings.
The glossy leaves are lobed and turn attractive red or yellow tones in the fall. Oval acorns have a top-shaped cap with loose scales and mature the second year.
Use bush oak as a shade or street tree. It will provide food and cover for many critters.
Insects, Diseses, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids are an occasional pest problem producing honeydew that can drip on hard surfaces below the tree. Galls appear but cause no issues other than cosmetic. Powdery mildew and honey fungus are common disease problems. See pests and diseases of oaks in NC to the left.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Seattle Trident'
Glossy leaves turn bronze in fall and remain on tree
- 'Seattle Trident'
- 'Seattle Trident'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Seattle Trident'
Glossy leaves turn bronze in fall and remain on tree
- 'Seattle Trident'
- 'Seattle Trident'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and northeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA
- 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. Acorns provide food to birds and mammals. The tree provides shelter to birds and mammals. They are host plants to moths and butterflies.
- Edibility:
- Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Erect
- 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 Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Acorns are oval cap with loose scales extends halfway down the nut. Mature the second year
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Male flowers are hanging catkins and female flowers are small spikes
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- 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:
- Leaves are 7 to 8 inches long by 5 to 6 inches wide and obovate with a tapered base. They usuall have three lobes but occasionally more. Lobes are bristle-tipped. They are glossy green with paler undersides that have tufts of hairs in the vein axils. Attractive red to yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray, ridged and divided into irregular blocks
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stout, tomentose when young glabrous as the season progresses. 1 cm long buds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Poor Soil
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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
