Quercus stellata (Post Oak)
Post Oak, Iron Oak, Post White Oak
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.
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Requirements
Hardiness | 5
– 9 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Trees |
Plant Family | Quercus - Oaks |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 35' – 50' (10.5m – 15m) |
Spread | 35' – 50' (10.5m – 15m) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |
Melinda Fawver, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 5
– 9 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Trees |
Plant Family | Quercus - Oaks |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 35' – 50' (10.5m – 15m) |
Spread | 35' – 50' (10.5m – 15m) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |