• Photo of Quercus margarettae (Quercus margarettaes)

Plant Profile: Quercus margarettae

Taxonomy: Quercus margarettae

Names

Dwarf Post Oak, Oaks, Sand Post Oak

  • Photo of Quercus margarettae (Quercus margarettaes)

Phonetic Spelling:KWER-kus mar-GAR-et-tay

Genus:Quercus

Species:margarettae

Family:Fagaceae

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.

Quercus margarettae Feature Summary

Quercus margarettae Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#deciduous
#shade tree
#full sun tolerant
#shrub
#wildlife plant
#native tree
#moths
#tree
#shade shrub
#shade garden
#spring flowers
#fall interest
#flowering tree
#small mammals
#food source
#NC native
#acorns
#nighttime garden
#spring interest
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#sandhills
#food source herbage
#sandy soils tolerant
#loamy soils tolerant
#fruits
#clay soils tolerant
#bird friendly
#dry soils tolerant
#food source hard mast fruit
#mammals
#butterfly friendly
#butterfly larvae
#moth larvae
#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 margarettae is often confused with:

Quercus margarettae Feature Summary

Attributes
The wood is used for mining timbers, railroad ties, flooring, fence posts and siding.
Central and southeastern U.S.A.
AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MO , MS , NC , OK , 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. Butterflies use this tree as a larval host. Birds and small mammals use this tree as a food source.
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Fruit
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.
Brown/Copper
Flowers
Male flowers light green catkins, female flowers short reddish spikes
Insignificant
Catkin
Leaves
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.
3-6 inches
Leathery
1-3 inches
Bark
Gray to gray-brown, scaly initially and later developing vertical ridges and becoming darker.
Light Gray
Light Brown
Fissured
Ridges
Stem
Smooth slender gray twigs with a reddish-brown terminal bud, ovoid with pointed apex, smooth or sparsely pubescent.
Gray/Silver
Smooth (glabrous)
Smooth/Hairless
Cluster of terminal buds
Poisonous to Humans
Stomach pain, constipation and later bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination if uncooked leaves or fruit are eaten.
Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin
Leaves
Fruits
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Native Plant
Rounded
Erect
Dense
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
Coastal
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Native Garden
Shade Tree
Woodland
Lawn
Naturalized Area
Slope/Bank
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Small Mammals
Problem for Horses

Quercus margarettae Attributes

Quercus margarettae: Uses (Ethnobotany)

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.

Quercus margarettae: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Quercus margarettae: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Quercus margarettae: Leaf Type

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

Quercus margarettae: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Quercus margarettae: Leaf Margin

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

Quercus margarettae: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Quercus margarettae: Leaf Length

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

Quercus margarettae: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Quercus margarettae: Leaf Width

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

Quercus margarettae Bark

Quercus margarettae: Bark Description

Gray to gray-brown, scaly initially and later developing vertical ridges and becoming darker.

Quercus margarettae: Bark Color

grass
Light Brown
grass
Light Gray

Quercus margarettae: Surface/Attachment

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

Quercus margarettae Stem

Quercus margarettae: Stem Description

Smooth slender gray twigs with a reddish-brown terminal bud, ovoid with pointed apex, smooth or sparsely pubescent.

Quercus margarettae: Stem Color

grass
Gray/Silver

Quercus margarettae: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Quercus margarettae: Stem Surface

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

Quercus margarettae: Stem Buds

Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless

Quercus margarettae: Stem Bud Terminal

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

Quercus margarettae Poisonous to Humans

Quercus margarettae: Poison Symptoms

Stomach pain, constipation and later bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination if uncooked leaves or fruit are eaten.

Quercus margarettae: Poison Toxic Principle

Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin

Quercus margarettae: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Quercus margarettae: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Quercus margarettae: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Quercus margarettae Whole Plant Traits

Quercus margarettae: 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 margarettae: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Quercus margarettae: 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 margarettae: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Quercus margarettae Cultural Conditions

Quercus margarettae: 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 margarettae: Soil Drainage

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

Quercus margarettae: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Quercus margarettae: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

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

Quercus margarettae: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Quercus margarettae Landscape

Quercus margarettae: 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 margarettae: 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 margarettae: 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 margarettae: 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 margarettae: Attracts

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

Quercus margarettae: 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