Trees - Q -  Plant Nursery

Sawtooth Oak
Quercus acutissima

The Sawtooth Oak tree, Quercus acutissima, is a wide spreading shade or lawn tree. This deciduous tree is a great source for wildlife food because it begins to produce acorns in its sixth year in the nursery. It is a highly prized oak for wildlife enthusiasts because of the short time it takes for the tree to produce acorns. Sawtooth Oak trees have moderate water requirements and it has a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali soils. The leaves go from yellow to golden brown in the fall, and open to a brilliant golden yellow in the spring. Its growth rate is rapid for an oak tree, and it is a fast growing shade tree.

Gobbler Sawtooth Oak
Quercus acutissima

The Gobbler Sawtooth Oak tree, Quercus acutissima, produces acorns in 5 years, supports wildlife, and is fast growing tree. The “Gobbler” Sawtooth Oak, is the same as the Sawtooth Oak but produces a smaller acorn. The smaller acorn is desirable as a food source for wild turkeys. This deciduous tree has a moderate water requirement and has a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali soils. The Gobbler begins bearing acorns in the fifth or sixth year in a nursery location. The Gobbler grows fast for an oak tree. Fall leaf color will be yellow to golden brown. Leaves may persist into winter. This tree will bear heavy in alternate years and it is a very adaptable Oak tree that can tolerate droughty conditions.

White Oak
Quercus alba

The White Oak tree, Quercus alba, is a great majestic long-lived tree that will last for generations. It is an excellent wildlife source of food mass in the form of acorns. This deciduous shade tree has moderate water requirements and has a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali soils. Does best on deep, moist, well-drained, acid soils. This tree grows at a moderate pace. The White Oak is pyramidal in youth and then develops broad crown with age. The dense foliage is bluish-green, to reddish-brown in fall. The White Oak is the tree from which the phrase "The Mighty Oak" was coined. It is an excellent specimen tree needing plenty of room to mature properly. Advantages of the White Oak are that they are easily transplanted when young and they have a high resistance to ice breakage and oak wilt. They require very little maintenance.

Swamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor

The Swamp White Oak tree, Quercus bicolor, is a beautiful native tree with lustrous, heavy textured leaves with wavy margins. This rugged oak grows well in either upland or swampy areas. It is tolerant of poorly drained sites and frequently is found in heavy mucky soils. The Swamp White Oak is a rapidly growing tree that flowers in spring. The acorns mature and are shed in September or October of the same year. The Swamp White Oak is a long-lived tree that may reach 300 to 350 years old. The name bicolor refers to the two-colored leaf, shining dark green above and velvety white pubescence below, turning golden in the fall. This deciduous tree has a rounded open habit. Swamp Oak trees transplant easily. It casts dense shade. The sweet acorns are eaten by whitetail deer, mallards, wood ducks, wild turkeys, squirrels, woodpeckers, and smaller rodents.

Northern Red Oak
Quercus borealis

The Northern Red Oak tree, Quercus borealis, is known for its strength and brilliant fall color. Northern Red Oak trees are used as a specimen tree and also for wildlife. It has moderate water requirements and has a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali soils. The form of this tree is rounded and the ascending, usually massive branches, tend to branch low to the ground. Fall colors are from yellow-brown to russet-red and bright red. New leaves have a reddish tinge in the spring. Commercially valuable wood. They will bear acorns in 10-12 years in the nursery. Does best in well-drained soils. A very widely planted tree.

Texas Red Oak
Quercus buckleyi

The Texas Red Oak, 'Quercus buckleyi' is also known as Spanish Oak, Spotted Oak, Red Oak, and Rock Oak. This medium sized tree may achieve a height of 30 feet or more and an equal spread. The Texas Red Oak develops a rather typical shape and form for the species, with a dense rounded canopy. The Texas red oak may also be found as a multi-trunked specimen in the wild. They are moderately fast growing for a hard wood tree. The bark is thick with scaly ridges separated by deep, dark fissures.

Southern Red Oak
Quercus falcata

The Southern Red Oak tree, Quercus falcata, is characterized by its rough bark. The Southern red oak is also referred to as Spanish oak. Southern Red Oak trees are a medium-sized tree with a short trunk and large branches supporting a rounded crown. The bark is dark gray in color, furrowed, and is marked by rough ridges and plates. It is a tree of the Old South, ranging from Maryland to Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The acorns are usually produced singly, and biennially. They are 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, roughly spherical and orange-brown. Songbirds, turkey, a variety of small mammals and deer eat the nuts.The Southern Oak tree is deciduous and is a good shade tree adapted to drier sites. The wood of the Southern Red Oak is strong and coarse-grained.

Cherry Bark Oak
Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia

The Cherrybark Oak tree, Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia, is also called bottomland red oak, red oak, swamp red oak, swamp Spanish oak, and Elliott oak. Cherrybark Oak trees are a highly-valued red oak in the South. It is larger and better formed than southern red oak and commonly grows on more moist sites. This deciduous tree has heavy strong wood which makes it an excellent timber tree; it is used for furniture and interior finish. Many wild animals and birds use the acorns as food. This tree is also a pleasant shade tree and is a fast growing Oak tree.

Overcup Oak
Quercus lyrata

The Overcup Oak tree, Quercus lyrata, is a long-lived, very sturdy shade tree that will thrive in a wide variety of soil conditions. This oak tree is long overlooked by growers; the tree is just starting to be more popular and thus more readily available for home landscapes. An important tree in difficult urban landscaping situations with uniform branching forming a rounded shape with an open crown. The Overcup Oak has brilliant reddish or gray brown bark and displays leathery dark green leaves in summer. Fall color is a rich yellow-brown. The Overcup oak is easy to transplant and tolerates most soil conditions and partial shade to full sun. Acorns are produced annually and are relatively small, usually between 1/2 an 1 inch. The oak tree derives it's name from the acorn cap that very nearly covers the acorn. The tree can produce very prolific acorn crops but generally does not begin to produce for 15 + years. Overcup Oak trees can create wildlife habitat on land where most oak species can not survive.

Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa

The Bur Oak tree, Quercus macrocarpa, is a long-lived majestic oak tree. It is also called the Burr Oak. The Bur Oak is a tall, fairly slow-growing, long-lived tree, highly desirable for windbreaks, shelterbelts and ornamental use. It has an impressive crown with a massive trunk, which makes it a picturesque specimen. Bur Oak trees adapt to various soils where other oaks may fail. This deciduous tree is tolerant to urban conditions. Autumn colors are yellow-green, yellow, and yellow brown. The tree will bear acorns in the nursery in ten years.

Eastern Red Oak
Quercus maxima

The Eastern Red Oak tree, Quercus maxima, is a hardwood tree that you can recognize by its pointy-lobed leaves with prickly tips. In autumn the leaves turn a vibrant red, adding bursts of color to our landscapes. This deciduous tree produces many acorns and is a great provider of food for wildlife. The tree is very similar to the Northen Red Oak and is sometimes called a Northen Red Oak. It grows rapidly for an Oak tree and is widely adaptable to moisture and soil types.

Swamp Chestnut Oak
Quercus michauxii

The Swamp Chestnut Oak tree, Quercus michauxii, is known also as a basket oak for the baskets made from its wood, and cow oak because cows eat the acorns. One of the important timber trees of the South, it grows on moist and wet loamy soils of bottom lands, along streams and borders of swamps. The high quality wood is used in all kinds of construction and for implements. The acorns are sweet and serve as food to wildlife. Swamp chestnut oak trees are well-formed and become quite large with a narrow crown. Swamp Chestnut Oak strongly prefers soils that are moist, permanently moist, or permanently wet, and tolerates standing water for several weeks at a time. Good seed crops occur at intervals of 3-5 years with poor to fair production in between. Swamp chestnut oak trees are deciduous and have leaves that vary from four to eight inches in length, are downy beneath and turn a rich crimson in the fall. A good shade tree.

Chinkapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii

The Chinkapin Oak tree, Quercus muehlenbergii, is the limestone equivalent of the chestnut oak, occuring as a dominant species on rocky alkaline uplands. This Oak tree is also sometimes commonly called yellow chestnut oak. Chinkapin oak is a medium sized deciduous oak of the white oak group that typically grows 40-60’ tall with an open globular crown. Fruits are small oval acorns with scaly cups that extend to approximately 1/2 the acorn length. Acorns are valued food for a variety of wildlife. Chinkapin Oak trees have narrow, shiny green leaves that have coarse marginal teeth. Leaves somewhat resemble the leaves of chestnut whose nut is sometimes called a chinquapin, hence the common name of this oak. Its acorn is sweet and edible. The thin leaves provide light shade. Fall color is variable, but it usually displays shades of yellow and brown. Chinkapin is not used extensively as an ornamental tree, although it is quite tolerant of tougher sites.

Water Oak
Quercus nigra

The Water Oak tree, Quercus nigra, is also known as a spotted oak or possum oak. Water Oak trees are a conical to round-topped tree. It is a popular tree in the South as a shade and street tree. This deciduous tree is fast growing and it starts producing acorns before its 10th year. The Water Oak is found along streams and low ground. It is a tall tree with a slender trunk . The Quercus nigra is hardy to zone 6 and is frost tender. The plant prefers medium to heavy soils. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can tolerate strong winds but not maritime exposure. Acorns are 1/2 inch long, very dark in color, and 1/3 covered by a flattened cap. It matures in September of the second year. The Water Oak trees attractive form makes it a popular landscape and shade tree. Water oak acorns provide food for many animals such as squirrels, white-tailed deer, and wild turkey.

Nuttall Oak
Quercus nuttallii

The Nuttall Oak tree, Quercus nuttallii, was not distinguished as a species until 1927. It is also called red oak, Red River oak, and pin oak. It is one of the few commercially important species found on poorly drained clay flats and low bottoms of the Gulf Coastal Plain and north in the Mississippi and Red River Valleys. The acorn or winter buds identify Nuttall oak, easily confused with pin oak . The lumber is often cut and sold as red oak. In addition to producing timber, Nuttall oak is an important species for wildlife management because of heavy annual mast production. Nuttall Oak trees are a good choice for low poorly drained locations. During winter, squirrels find a ready supply of acorns, since many acorns remain on the tree into January. Acorns are favored by deer and also eaten by turkeys.

Pin Oak
Quercus palustris

The Pin Oak tree, Quercus palustris, is probably the most widely used native oak for landscaping. One of the faster growing oaks; it can grow 12 to 15’ over a 5 to 7 year period. Pin Oak trees have moderate water requirements and have a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali soils. This deciduous tree prospers in a range of soil types including wet soils. It has pyramidal, dense, pendulous lower branches when mature. It loses it lower limbs with age. Young trees and lower branches of older trees hold leaves throughout winter. Transplants well.

Willow Oak
Quercus phellos

The Willow Oak tree, Quercus phellos, is one of the most popular trees for streets, parks, estates, and residential properties. This shade tree is also grown as far north as Cape Cod with reasonable success. A beautiful specimen oak, the Willow Oak is a relatively fast growing species, about 2’ a year. Willow Oak trees have moderate water requirements and a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali soils. This deciduous trees fall color is yellow to yellow-brown. The Willow Oak is a good street tree because it is tolerant of heat, drought, air pollution and standing water. Acorns are a good food source for birds and squirrels. The small leaves are easy to clean up in the fall.

Chestnut Oak
Quercus prinus

The Chestnut Oak tree, Quercus prinus, is a medium-sized, native, deciduous tree. Chestnut Oak trees are also called Rock Oak, Rock Chestnut Oak, or Mountain Oak. It is long-lived and slow-growing rugged tree. The characteristic bark is dark and very rough. On older trees it typically is broken into long, V-shaped ridges that are separated by deep furrows. The tree grows on dry, rocky ridges and slopes. The wood is strong and durable, and mainly used for general construction and fuel. The bark has greater tannin content than most other oaks, and was extensively used in the leather tanning trade. The acorns are an important source of food for various forms of wildlife. The acorns are large, but do not appear until the tree is around 20 years old. The leaf undersides are medium green, rather than white. Autumn color is chartreuse to yellow-brown, but the canopy is cleaned of leaves by late autumn. Chestnut Oak is amazingly free of major pest and disease problems, a testament to superior genetics in all aspects of its growth cycle.

Shumard Oak
Quercus shumardii

The Shumard Oak tree, Quercus shumardii, is one of the largest southern red oak trees. It grows moderately fast and produces acorns every 2 to 4 years that are a bonus since they can be used by wildlife for food. A handsome shade tree, suggested as a substitute for Scarlet Oak, though not so hardy northward. It was named for Benjamin Franklin Shumard state geologist of Texas. This deciduous tree, sometimes called the Texas Oak, has small, usually 5-lobed leaves, small acorns, and hairy red buds . Shumard Oak trees have shiny, dark green leaves, and the bark is gray and smooth. Shumard Oak trees tolerate poor soil and drought conditions, especially after they are established. The outstanding deep crimson-red fall color produced by the Shumard Oak is an excellent reason to plant this species. In urban areas, this tree has been embraced as a hardy city species. It is also a valuable lumber oak.

Post Oak
Quercus stellata

The Post Oak tree, Quercus stellata, is a small to medium-sized tree. The bark of the Post Oak is similar to that of the White Oak, but somewhat darker and often fissured into scaly ridges. The leaves of Post Oak trees are usually 4 to 5 inches long and they are thick and somewhat leathery. They are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and lighter green and rough hairy beneath. The Post Oak commonly is associated with the Blackjack Oak. The Post Oak usually grows in dry, sandy to rocky soils. The wood is hard and strong, and is very durable when in contact with soil. Its use is mainly for posts, railroad ties, mine props, and sometimes as fuel. In fact, the Post Oak sometimes is called the Box White Oak. Acorns are 1/2 to 2/3 inches long and ovoid in shape. The acorns matures in one year, ripening September to November. The leaves turn to a golden color in the fall.

Texana Nuttall Oak
Quercus texana

The Texana Nuttall Oak tree, Quercus texana, also known as Spanish oak, Nuttall's oak, Texas red oak, Spotted Oak, Rock oak, and red river oak, is a large deciduous native tree of the red oak group. The Texana Nuttail tree has a wide-spreading, rounded crown. Fruits are oval acorns with scaly cups. Dark green leaves are deeply divided into 5-7 spiny, pointed lobes. Leaf shape is reminiscent of the closely related pin oaks and schumard oaks. Fall color comes late, but often includes quality shades of red. Species name is in reference to the state of Texas where this oak was apparently first identified. Gray-brown bark, initially thin and smooth, later developes narrow scaly ridges. The acorn matures in two seasons. The wood is used as red oak lumber. The acorns are eaten by water fowl and many small mammals.

Black Oak
Quercus velutina

The Black Oak tree, Quercus velutina, is very similar in appearance to the Red Oak. One of the main differences include its ability to thrive on poor and varied soils. It is sometimes called yellow oak, quercitron, yellowbark oak, or smoothbark oak. Black Oak trees occur naturally on poor sandy or clay hillsides. This deciduous tree has deeply furrowed bark and on mature trees is nearly black. The thick, nearly black bark is marked with deep furrows and irregularly broken ridges. The characteristic inner bark is bright yellow to orange, hence the alternate common name of Yellow Oak. This moderately growing oak tree grows on dry uplands, slopes and ridges. The wood, while hard and strong is not tough. It generally is inferior to that of the Red Oak. Still, it is used in much the same ways. Historically, the inner bark was important for its tannin and as a source of yellow dye. The green leaves have a notably velvety underside.