yellow oak

Plant Type

Large Tree (greater than 25 ft)

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

40-60 ft. tall
50-70 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Drought

Inolerant of

Poorly Drained Soil

Propagation

By seed

Plant Propagation Notes

Acorns should be scarified or soaked in hot water. Seedlings susceptible to damp off.

Plant Planting Notes

Provide up to 70 ft spacing for the wide canopy.

Plants/Diseases

No significant disease or pest issues. Resistant to oak wilt.

Wildlife Benefits

Host plant for butterfly larvae, Supports numerous caterpillars (bird food)

Leaves

Leaves alternate, oblong to oblanceolate with dentate margins; similar in appearance to chestnut leaves.

Flowers

Tiny yellow flowers in catkins (male) and leaf axils (female).

Fruit

Nut.

Bark

New growth is brown, smooth with scattered lenticels. Mature bark is gray and scaled.

Toxicity

Low toxicity if consumed in large quantities.

USDA Hardiness Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Light Exposure

Full Sun

Soil Moisture

Dry, Medium

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

wooded slopes with soils over calcareous rock.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Rare in the South Carolina coastal plain and sandhills. Uncommon in the piedmont and mountains.