Quercus austrina: Bluff Oak: ENH-700/ST542, 12/2018

Abstract

This North American native oak reaches 30 to 80 feet in height and makes an attractive shade tree, with handsome scaly gray bark. The green, lobed leaves are deciduous but do not change color before dropping in fall. The insignificant, green, spring flowers are followed by small acorns, less than one-inch-long. The trunk often grows straight up through the crown with little pruning, and branches are well spaced along the trunk. This is one of the oaks which is not currently available in most nurseries, but it should be. Urban tree managers will want this oak once they find out about it. Original publication date November 1993.