Quercus canbyi: Country Or Region Of Origin
TX and Mexico
Plant Profile: Quercus canbyi
Names
Chisos Oak, Graceful Oak, Oaks, Sierra Oak, Slender Oak
Phonetic Spelling:KWER-kus KAN-bee-eye
Genus:Quercus
Species:canbyi
Family:Fagaceae
The Chisos Oak is a slow-to-shed deciduous red oak that originates from Texas and Mexico. In its early years, it exhibits a pyramidal shape, transitioning to a more open and irregular form as it matures. Typically, this tree grows to heights of 40 to 50 feet, although it can reach up to 80 feet in Mexico. It has been successfully cultivated as far north as Springfield, Illinois. With its glossy green foliage and graceful, slender branches, it serves as an attractive shade tree. Once it is well-established, it demonstrates resilience to drought conditions.
However, the Chisos Oak is not without its challenges. It can be vulnerable to pests such as scales and spider mites, and it may occasionally suffer from issues like Armillaria, anthracnose, and root rot. Additionally, the fallen dried fruits can create litter problems in landscaped areas.
Quercus canbyi Feature Summary
Tags
#deciduous
#shade tree
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#moths
#salt tolerant
#attracts squirrels
#nighttime garden
#oak tree
#slender branches
#larval host plant
#deciduous tree
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#moth larvae
#pollinator garden
#problem for horses
#banded hairstreak butterfly
#gray hairstreak butterfly
#imperial moth
#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly
#edward’s hairstreak butterfly
#white-m hairstreak butterfly
#horace’s duskywing butterfly
Similar Plants
Quercus canbyi Feature Summary
Attributes
TX and Mexico
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Nuts attract birds and squirrels.
Woody
Fruit
Acorn brown and yellowish 1/2" singly or in pairs with the cup covering 1/2 of nut, with nearly flat scales. Matures in 1 year from August to October;
Nut
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
Separate male and female flowers on the same tree, inconspicuous. Male flowers in yellow catkins.
Gold/Yellow
Insignificant
Catkin
Spring
Leaves
6-8 inch long and 2-3 inch wide glossy leaves resembling holly are lanceolate to elliptic with pointed, bristle-tipped apex and base acute, obtuse or rounded. Margins have teeth that are bristle-tipped. Dark green on the upper sides and yellow-green underneath. Fall color may have red tones.
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Elliptical
Lanceolate
Serrate
> 6 inches
Glossy
1-3 inches
Bark
Bark brown-green, smooth, becoming dark grey and warty
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Green
Stem
Twigs are red-brown, shiny and thin becoming glabrous, with rare, inconspicuous lenticels. Terminal buds are red-brown, ovoid to conical.
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Smooth (glabrous)
Straight
Not Conspicuous
Poisonous to Humans
Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
Gallotannin
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Deciduous
Rounded
Erect
Spreading
Irregular
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
24-60 feet
Coastal
Piedmont
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Nighttime Garden
Shade Tree
Street Tree
Drought
Salt
Recreational Play Area
Lawn
Coastal
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Small Mammals
Problem for Horses
Messy
Quercus canbyi Image Gallery
Quercus canbyi Attributes
Quercus canbyi: Wildlife Value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Nuts attract birds and squirrels.
Quercus canbyi: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Quercus canbyi Fruit
Quercus canbyi: Fruit Description
Acorn brown and yellowish 1/2" singly or in pairs with the cup covering 1/2 of nut, with nearly flat scales. Matures in 1 year from August to October;
Quercus canbyi: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Quercus canbyi: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Quercus canbyi: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Quercus canbyi: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Quercus canbyi: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Quercus canbyi Flowers
Quercus canbyi: Flower Description
Separate male and female flowers on the same tree, inconspicuous. Male flowers in yellow catkins.
Quercus canbyi: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Quercus canbyi: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Quercus canbyi: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Quercus canbyi Leaves
Quercus canbyi: Leaf Description
6-8 inch long and 2-3 inch wide glossy leaves resembling holly are lanceolate to elliptic with pointed, bristle-tipped apex and base acute, obtuse or rounded. Margins have teeth that are bristle-tipped. Dark green on the upper sides and yellow-green underneath. Fall color may have red tones.
Quercus canbyi: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Quercus canbyi: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Quercus canbyi: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Red/Burgundy
Quercus canbyi: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Quercus canbyi: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Quercus canbyi: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Quercus canbyi: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Quercus canbyi: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Quercus canbyi: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Quercus canbyi: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Quercus canbyi: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Quercus canbyi Bark
Quercus canbyi: Bark Description
Bark brown-green, smooth, becoming dark grey and warty
Quercus canbyi: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Green
Quercus canbyi Stem
Quercus canbyi: Stem Description
Twigs are red-brown, shiny and thin becoming glabrous, with rare, inconspicuous lenticels. Terminal buds are red-brown, ovoid to conical.
Quercus canbyi: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Quercus canbyi: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Quercus canbyi: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Quercus canbyi: Stem Form
Straight
Zig Zags
Quercus canbyi: Stem Lenticels
Conspicuous
Not Conspicuous
Quercus canbyi Poisonous to Humans
Quercus canbyi: Poison Symptoms
Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
Quercus canbyi: Poison Toxic Principle
Gallotannin
Quercus canbyi: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Quercus canbyi: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Quercus canbyi Whole Plant Traits
Quercus canbyi: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Quercus canbyi: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Quercus canbyi: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Quercus canbyi: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Quercus canbyi Cultural Conditions
Quercus canbyi: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Quercus canbyi: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Quercus canbyi: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Quercus canbyi: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Quercus canbyi: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Quercus canbyi: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Quercus canbyi: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Quercus canbyi Landscape
Quercus canbyi: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Quercus canbyi: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Quercus canbyi: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Quercus canbyi: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Quercus canbyi: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Quercus canbyi: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
