Turkey Oak
Quercus laevis · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Fagaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Forest Tree, Native
Variety / Cultivar
None widely recognized as standard cultivars; typically grows as the wild species type
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 9, tolerating hot summers and mild winters
About This Tree
A small to medium-sized deciduous tree with a somewhat open, irregular, and rounded crown. It typically features a crooked, leaning trunk and twisted branches. Known for thriving in nutrient-poor, dry sandy soils where other trees struggle
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate, simple leaves deeply lobed with 3 to 7 bristle-tipped lobes resembling the foot of a turkey, measuring 4 to 8 inches long, dark green above and paler beneath, turning yellowish or brownish in autumn
Bark Characteristics
Dark gray to almost black bark, deeply furrowed and scaly on mature trunks, becoming rough and ridged with age
Growing Information
Origin Region
Southeastern United States, particularly adapted to coastal plains and sandy, acidic soils from Virginia south to Florida and west to Louisiana
Growing Season
Leafs out in spring, produces inconspicuous flowers in spring, develops acorns that mature over two seasons (dropping in autumn of their second year), and enters dormancy in late autumn
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and has low water requirements once established, displaying exceptionally high drought tolerance and a preference for well-draining sandy soils
Mature Size
Typically reaches 20 to 50 feet in height with a similar or slightly smaller spread, growing at a slow to moderate rate with a moderate lifespan
Special Characteristics
Highly drought and heat tolerant, well-adapted to wildfire-prone ecosystems with thick bark providing some fire resistance, and provides tough hardwood timber mostly used for firewood
Wildlife & Ecology
Acorns are a crucial food source for wild turkeys, deer, squirrels, and various jays and woodpeckers; the tree also provides nesting habitat and cover for numerous bird and insect species typical of the sandhill ecosystem