Sand Post Oak
Quercus margaretta
- Native to:
- United States, Virgin Islands
Bruce Kirchoff
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus margaretta
- USDA Symbol:
- QUMA13
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americana), Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), Girlfriend Underwing (Catocala amica), Grote's buck moth (Hemileuca grotei), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Io moth (Automeris io), Lineella Underwing (Catocala lineella), Little nymph underwing (Catocala micronympha), Meganola spodia, Menesta melanella, oak leaf blotch miner (Cameraria hamadryadella), Phyllonorycter basistrigella, Phyllonorycter fitchella, Pink-striped oakworm moth (Anisota virginiensis), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Scalloped sack-bearer (Lacosoma chiridota), Scarlet Underwing (Catocala coccinata), Similar Underwing (Catocala similis), spotted oakworm moth (Anisota stigma), Stilbosis victor, tiger moth (Malacosoma tigris), Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth (Lochmaeus manteo), Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana ministra), Fixsenia ontario, Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- red, orange
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick bark provides some fire resistance; can resprout after low-severity fire.
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:
- Commonly found in sandy ridges and dry uplands.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification for 30-60 days to break dormancy; sow in fall or after stratification.
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 90 days.
Source: Claude AI