• Photo of Quercus laurifolia (Quercus laurifolias)

Plant Profile: Quercus laurifolia

Taxonomy: Quercus laurifolia

Names

Laurel Oak, Oaks

  • Photo of Quercus laurifolia (Quercus laurifolias)

Phonetic Spelling:KWER-kus law-ree-FOH-lee-uh

Genus:Quercus

Species:laurifolia

Family:Fagaceae

Laurel Oak is a semi-evergreen to deciduous shade tree belonging to the red oak family, indigenous to the southeastern United States, spanning from Virginia to Florida and extending westward to Texas. In North Carolina, it thrives in a range of environments, from moderately dry soils to areas that experience seasonal flooding, particularly in floodplains and along swamp edges within the Piedmont and coastal plain regions. Typically, this tree reaches heights of 40 to 60 feet, occasionally growing up to 100 feet, and features a dense, rounded canopy. Notably, acorns can begin to develop as early as 15 years after planting.

This species demonstrates remarkable adaptability to various soil conditions, including poorly drained clay. It flourishes in both full sunlight and partial shade, making it an excellent choice for providing shade in lawns and parks.

However, it is important to note that while Laurel Oak grows rapidly, it may encounter issues related to weak wood, which can lead to vulnerabilities in its structure.

Quercus laurifolia Feature Summary

Quercus laurifolia Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#shade tree
#full sun tolerant
#semi-evergreen
#wildlife plant
#partial sun
#native tree
#moths
#tree
#spring flowers
#flowering tree
#moist soil
#food source
#fast growing
#NC native
#well-drained soil
#nighttime garden
#swamps
#native garden
#floodplain
#weak wood
#spring interest
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#Coastal FACW
#Piedmont Mountains FACW
#fruits
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#mammals
#butterfly friendly
#butterfly larvae
#moth larvae
#fruits early fall
#partial shade tolerant
#larval host tree
#pollinator garden
#problem for horses
#audubon
#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 laurifolia is often confused with:

Quercus laurifolia Feature Summary

Attributes
Southeastern U.S.A. to TX
AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , PA , SC , TX , VA
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. Birds and mammals use the nuts from this tree as a food source. Birds and small mammals use this tree for nesting.
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Nesting
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Larval Host
Fruit
1/2 to 2/3 inch long round dark brown and striated acorn. The scaly cap is usually shallow but may cover up to 1/3 of the acorn. Matures in 2 years.
Brown/Copper
< 1 inch
Flowers
Male catkins are yellow-green. Female flowers are small reddish spikes.
Insignificant
Catkin
Leaves
The 3-5 inch long and 1.5 inch wide elliptic to oblong leathery leaves are glossy green with paler undersides. Margins entire with shallow lobes. The leaves last into winter in warmer climates.
Elliptical
Oblong
Entire
Lobed
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Bark
Dark brown and initially smooth. Develops shallow fissures with flat, rough ridges at maturity.
Dark Brown
Fissured
Ridges
Stem
Slender, light reddish-brown, smooth, buds are sharp-pointed reddish-brown and clustered at twig ends.
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Smooth (glabrous)
Smooth/Hairless
Cluster of terminal buds
Poisonous to Humans
Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
Leaves
Fruits
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Native Plant
Rounded
Erect
Dense
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Native Garden
Shade Tree
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Small Mammals
Problem for Horses
Weak Wood

Quercus laurifolia Attributes

Quercus laurifolia: Country Or Region Of Origin

Southeastern U.S.A. to TX

Quercus laurifolia: Distribution

AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , PA , SC , TX , VA

Quercus laurifolia: 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. Birds and mammals use the nuts from this tree as a food source. Birds and small mammals use this tree for nesting.

Quercus laurifolia: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Quercus laurifolia: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Quercus laurifolia: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Quercus laurifolia Fruit

Quercus laurifolia: Fruit Description

1/2 to 2/3 inch long round dark brown and striated acorn. The scaly cap is usually shallow but may cover up to 1/3 of the acorn. Matures in 2 years.

Quercus laurifolia: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Quercus laurifolia: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Quercus laurifolia: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Quercus laurifolia: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Quercus laurifolia: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Quercus laurifolia Flowers

Quercus laurifolia: Flower Description

Male catkins are yellow-green. Female flowers are small reddish spikes.

Quercus laurifolia: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Quercus laurifolia: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Quercus laurifolia Leaves

Quercus laurifolia: Leaf Description

The 3-5 inch long and 1.5 inch wide elliptic to oblong leathery leaves are glossy green with paler undersides. Margins entire with shallow lobes. The leaves last into winter in warmer climates.

Quercus laurifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Quercus laurifolia: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Quercus laurifolia: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Quercus laurifolia: 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 laurifolia: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Quercus laurifolia: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Quercus laurifolia: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Quercus laurifolia: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Quercus laurifolia Bark

Quercus laurifolia: Bark Description

Dark brown and initially smooth. Develops shallow fissures with flat, rough ridges at maturity.

Quercus laurifolia: Bark Color

grass
Dark Brown

Quercus laurifolia: Surface/Attachment

Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy

Quercus laurifolia Stem

Quercus laurifolia: Stem Description

Slender, light reddish-brown, smooth, buds are sharp-pointed reddish-brown and clustered at twig ends.

Quercus laurifolia: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Red/Burgundy

Quercus laurifolia: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Quercus laurifolia: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Quercus laurifolia: Stem Buds

Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless

Quercus laurifolia: Stem Bud Terminal

Cluster of terminal buds
Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
Only 1 terminal bud, smaller than side buds

Quercus laurifolia Poisonous to Humans

Quercus laurifolia: Poison Symptoms

Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract

Quercus laurifolia: Poison Toxic Principle

Gallotannin

Quercus laurifolia: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Quercus laurifolia: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Quercus laurifolia: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Quercus laurifolia Whole Plant Traits

Quercus laurifolia: 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 laurifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Quercus laurifolia: 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 laurifolia: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Quercus laurifolia: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Quercus laurifolia Cultural Conditions

Quercus laurifolia: 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 laurifolia: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Quercus laurifolia: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Quercus laurifolia: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Quercus laurifolia: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Quercus laurifolia: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Quercus laurifolia Landscape

Quercus laurifolia: 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 laurifolia: 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 laurifolia: 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 laurifolia: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Quercus laurifolia: 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