Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

myrtle oak

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Quercus myrtifolia

Family:

Fagaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

5 to 30 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms early spring (inconspicuous). Fruits ripen the second fall.

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Forms a thicket with many sprouts from spreading roots

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed or as nursery-grown sapplings. Small stems may difficult to transplant from the wild.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- 1Stays wet

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host  for Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), red-banded hairstreak ( Calycopis cecrops ) and white-M hairstreak ( Parrhasius m-album ) butterflies.





Possible larval host for Juvenal's duskywing ( Erynnis juvenalis ) and oak hairstreak ( Fixsenia favonius ) butterflies.

Small mammals use the acorns.





 Provides significant food and cover for wildlife.





The acorns are utilized by squirrels.





An important food source for the Florida scrub-jay as the tannins in the nuts help it remain edible through the winter; scrub-jays may also use it for nesting and perching

Native Habitats:

Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, scrubby sandhill.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This plant can form clones from underground stems.  It is adapted to fire environments.