Post Oak

Quercus stellata

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Fagaceae
Genus:: Quercus
Species:: Quercus stellata

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Tree
Height:: More than 40 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun, Part Shade
Bloom Months:: mar, apr, may
Bloom Colors:: Yellow, Brown

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

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)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: Commonly found in upland areas with poor fertility.

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seed may be floated in water to determine viability. Discard floating seeds and retain the ones that sink. Acorns can be planted immediately after collection as they have little or no dormancy.

Establishment: Seeds are collected from established natural stands. The establishment phase includes the overwintering period. No germination percentages or temperature information provided in the protocols.

Source: npn.rngr.net