Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

basket oak, swamp chestnut oak, cow oak

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Quercus michauxii

Family:

Fagaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

to 120 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms in spring (inconspicuous). Acorns mature in the fall.

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree. While native to moist sites, this oak does well in moderately dry areas as well. Makes a good street tree and can be used in parking lot islands. Bronzy fall color.

Considerations:

Fallen/falling acorns can be a maintenance issue.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Short very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval food for brown duskywing butterfly ( Erynnis horatius ), gray hairstreak ( Strymon melinus ), and white-M hairstreak (P arrhasius m-albu m).

Acorns prized by squirrels, deer, turkey and other wildlife.

Native Habitats:

Mesic sites near swamp edges and second bottoms of floodplains. May occur in uplands on shallow soils over limestone.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments: