Bear Oak
Quercus ilicifolia
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Slarson789
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus ilicifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- QUIL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
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
American lappet moth (Phyllodesma americana), Antaeotricha decorosella, Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Cameraria bethunella, Cameraria castaneaeella, Cameraria ulmella, Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Epinotia timidella, Girlfriend Underwing (Catocala amica), Grote's buck moth (Hemileuca grotei), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), 🛑Herodias Underwing (Catocala herodias), Lineella Underwing (Catocala lineella), maple webworm moth (Pococera asperatella), Melsheimer's sack-bearer (Cicinnus melsheimeri), Orange-tipped oakworm moth (Anisota senatoria), Phyllonorycter aeriferella, Phyllonorycter fitchella, red oak clearwing borer (Paranthrene simulans), Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda), Scalloped sack-bearer (Lacosoma chiridota), Scarlet Underwing (Catocala coccinata), Spiny Oak Slug (Euclea delphinii), Synanthedon decipiens, tiger moth (Malacosoma tigris), Edwards' hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis), Red-spotted Purple (Basilarchia arthemis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Acronicta lithospila, Afflicted Dagger Moth (Acronicta afflicta), Apoda biguttata, Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Blinded Sphinx (Paonias excaecata), Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Coptotriche castaneaeella, Coptotriche citrinipennella, Eriocraniella platyptera, four-lined chocolate (Argyrostrotis quadrifilaris), Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), Menesta melanella, Mottled Prominent (Macrurocampa marthesia), oak blotch miner moth (Tischeria quercitella), Oblique Heterocampa (Heterocampa obliqua), Orange-tipped oakworm moth (Anisota senatoria), Phyllonorycter aeriferella, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Povolnya quercinigrella, Scalloped sack-bearer (Lacosoma chiridota), Stilbosis quadricustatella, White-dotted Prominent (Nadata gibbosa), Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana ministra)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, deer, turkey, grouse
- Fall Color:
- red, bronze
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Highly fire-adapted; resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire. Often dominant in fire-maintained barrens and pine-oak communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- often found in dry, rocky, or sandy barrens
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Acorns germinate readily after cold stratification; sow in fall for natural stratification or refrigerate in moist medium.
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 90 days.
Notes: Seeds may require light for germination.
Source: Claude AI