Sand Post Oak
Quercus margarettiae · Deciduous broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Fagaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Native Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type species, no specific named cultivar
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 6 through 9
About This Tree
A small to medium-sized scrubby oak tree featuring a rounded and spreading crown, often shrubby in poor sandy soils, with distinctive leathery leaves and woolly-capped acorns.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate leaves with deeply impressed veins, typically 3-5 rounded lobes resembling a cross or hourglass shape, dark green and leathery above, paler and somewhat pubescent beneath.
Bark Characteristics
Rough, gray to dark brown bark that becomes furrowed and scaly with age on the trunk and larger branches.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Southeastern United States, coastal plains and sandy soils
Growing Season
Spring leaf-out and flowering, acorns maturing in autumn, winter dormancy
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun, highly drought tolerant once established, prefers well-drained sandy or acidic soils.
Mature Size
Typically reaches 20 to 40 feet in height with an equal or slightly lesser spread, slow to moderate growth rate.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional drought and poor soil tolerance, highly adapted to dry sandy ridges and xeric scrub habitats.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides critical mast (acorns) for wild turkeys, squirrels, deer, and various small mammals, as well as nesting cover for birds.