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.
Post Oak is a powerhouse wildlife tree. Its acorns feed deer, turkey, woodpeckers, jays, and squirrels, while its canopy offers nesting sites and valuable shelter. As a host plant to hundreds of moth and butterfly species, it supports rich food webs, making it one of the most ecologically important oaks. Top Native Texas Plants to Help Keep Birds Fed Through Every Season
The oak genus includes many beloved trees, such as Live Oak, White Oak, Red Oak, Blue Oak, Bur Oak, and Pin Oak.
| Hardiness |
5 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Trees |
| Plant Family | Fagaceae |
| Genus | Quercus |
| Common names | Iron Oak, Oak, Post Oak |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 35' - 50' (10.7m - 15.2m) |
| Spread | 35' - 50' (10.7m - 15.2m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Midwest, Missouri, Ohio, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |
| Hardiness |
5 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Trees |
| Plant Family | Fagaceae |
| Genus | Quercus |
| Common names | Iron Oak, Oak, Post Oak |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 35' - 50' (10.7m - 15.2m) |
| Spread | 35' - 50' (10.7m - 15.2m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Midwest, Missouri, Ohio, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |
How many Quercus stellata (Post Oak) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Quercus stellata (Post Oak) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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