Myrtle Oak
Quercus myrtifolia
Myrtle oak is a compact evergreen scrub oak with small, glossy, rolled-edged leaves, native to Florida and Gulf-coast dune scrub. A drought- and salt-tolerant component of rare coastal scrub communities. Its acorns are traditional food once the bitter tannins are leached out and the seed ground into flour.
- Family
- Fagaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 15–20 ft
- Spacing
- 8–10 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic
- Bloom
- March, April, May
- Bloom colors
- white, green
- Wildlife value
- songbirds, mammals, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~557 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- border
- Native states
- AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC
Related native plants
More Quercus species
- Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
- Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- White Oak (Quercus alba)
- Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
- Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
- Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)