Texas Red Oak
Quercus buckleyi
- Native to:
- United States
KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus buckleyi
- USDA Symbol:
- QUBU2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Gloveria sphingiformis, Grote's buck moth (Hemileuca grotei), Pink-striped oakworm moth (Anisota virginiensis), Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, deer
- Fall Color:
- red, orange, scarlet
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire. Thick bark provides some protection on mature trees.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, rocky or sandy loam
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to limestone hills and rocky slopes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Acorns lose viability quickly if allowed to dry out; plant fresh in fall or stratify immediately after collection.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Source: Claude AI