Slow-growing and long-lived, Quercus stellata (Post Oak) is a medium-sized deciduous tree of pyramidal habit in youth, becoming rounded with spreading branches with age. The foliage of rough, leathery, dark green leaves, up to 8 in. long (20 cm), has 3-5 rounded lobes and turns, on occasion, golden brown in the fall. The trunk is gray to light reddish-brown. Inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in separate male and female catkins appear in spring as the leaves emerge. Its egg-shaped acorns, 1 in. long (2.5 cm), are a valuable source of food for small mammals and birds, but it may take up to 25 years for this tree to bear a first crop. Difficult to transplant, Post Oak is extremely adaptable. It makes a lovely shade and specimen tree.

• Grows up to 35-50 ft. tall and wide (10-15 m).
• A full sun lover, this tree is easily grown in rich, moist, acidic, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions from poor dry sandy soils to moist heavy loams. Drought tolerant.
• Keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars, leaf-mining moths, oak gall wasps and powdery mildews.
• Toxic to horses.
• Native to the eastern United States.