The Sand Post Oak is a deciduous shrub or small tree indigenous to the southeastern United States, ranging from Virginia down to Florida and extending westward to Texas. This species typically thrives in sandy environments, such as open ridges, sandhill scrubs, and woodlands. It usually reaches heights of 30 to 40 feet, although it can grow taller, and is characterized by its slow growth, often appearing somewhat scraggly. Acorn production can take between 20 to 30 years.
This tree favors sandy to gravelly soils and requires full sun, demonstrating drought resistance once it is well-established. It is sometimes utilized as a shade tree and plays a role in stabilizing sandy slopes.
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. Butterflies use this tree as a larval host. Birds and small mammals use this tree as a food source.
Acorns are 1/2 inch long, light brown with a bowl-shaped cap that has thin scales and covers 1/3 to 1/2 of the acorn. They are sessile or have a short stalk. Mature in one year, ripen in fall.
Leaves are 2-4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide with a 3-5 irregularly lobed margin, base cuneate to rounded, apex broadly rounded. Thick textured. Shiny dark green above, light green and pubescent below.
The wood is used for mining timbers, railroad ties, flooring, fence posts and siding.
Quercus margarettae: Country Or Region Of Origin
Central and southeastern U.S.A.
Quercus margarettae: Distribution
AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TX , VA
Quercus margarettae: 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. Butterflies use this tree as a larval host. Birds and small mammals use this tree as a food source.
Quercus margarettae: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Quercus margarettae: 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 margarettae Fruit
Quercus margarettae: Fruit Description
Acorns are 1/2 inch long, light brown with a bowl-shaped cap that has thin scales and covers 1/3 to 1/2 of the acorn. They are sessile or have a short stalk. Mature in one year, ripen in fall.
Quercus margarettae: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Quercus margarettae: Fruit Color
grass
Brown/Copper
Quercus margarettae: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Quercus margarettae Flowers
Quercus margarettae: Flower Description
Male flowers light green catkins, female flowers short reddish spikes
Quercus margarettae: Flower Color
filter_vintage
Green
Quercus margarettae: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Quercus margarettae: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Quercus margarettae Leaves
Quercus margarettae: Leaf Description
Leaves are 2-4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide with a 3-5 irregularly lobed margin, base cuneate to rounded, apex broadly rounded. Thick textured. Shiny dark green above, light green and pubescent below.