← Bedfellow

Overcup Oak

Quercus lyrata

Tough bottomland oak that tolerates flooding and heavy clay, with acorns nearly swallowed by their caps. An underused, adaptable shade and street tree. Its acorns are notably sweet for an oak, needing little leaching before grinding into flour.

Family

Fagaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

40–60 ft

Spacing

40–60 ft apart

Light

part shade

Soil moisture

moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

March, April, May

Bloom colors

yellow

Wildlife value

butterflies, pollinators, mammals, songbirds, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~557 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

rain garden

Native states

AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA