Quercus x caduca
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus kah-DUE-kah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Caduca oak is a rare naturally occurring deciduous hybrid red oak in the Fagaceae family. The parents are Q. incana and Q. nigra and it is native to Texas, Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia. It is found in mesic to well-drained soils of barrens, hammocks, dunes, low to upland ridges.
This tree can grow up to 65 feet tall and prefers full sun and well-drained acidic sandy or loamy soils.
Flowers appear in spring, followed by acorns that mature the following year.
This tree is not available for sale.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See common pests of oaks to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and insects.
- 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
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A. and Texas
- Distribution:
- AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- Acorns mature the second year
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Early through late spring brownish-green insignificant flowers appear.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Dull green to bluish green with paler undersides that have some hairs. Margins are entire or weakly three-lobed.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- Dark gray with distinct ridges
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Reddish-brown stems with white lenticles
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
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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
