FNPS Plant Database

Quercus hemispherica

diamond oak, sand laurel oak, upland laurel oak
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

diamond oak, sand laurel oak, upland laurel oak

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Quercus hemispherica

Family:

Fagaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

100 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms spring. Acorns ripe the second fall. Life span 70-100 yrs.

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree where fast growth is needed. Tardily deciduous.

Considerations:

Do not plant overly close to foundations. Also be aware that this is not one of the stronger or longer lived oaks--not wind-resistant as most other oaks. Lives approximately 50 years.

Availability:

Big Box Stores, Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Not wet but not extremely dry -to- Somewhat long 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, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

adaptable (usually acidic)

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for Horace’s Duskywing ( Erynnis horatius ) and White M Hairstreak ( Parrhasius m-album ).





Larval host for several moth species (some of the caterpillars are not appreciated)

Produces acorns that are used by rodents, including squirrels, and other mammals





Acorns used by woodpeckers, jays, and wild turkeys





Used for cover and nesting by a variety of bird species

Native Habitats:

Dry flatwoods with fire exclusion, disturbed uplands.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Depending on who you ask, there are two laurel oaks in Florida.  Q. laurifolia (swamp laurel oak) and Q. hemisphaerica (Darlington oak, sand laurel oak).  The taxonomists don't agree, and it appears that the two are distinctively different in north Florida but very much alike in southern and south Florida. Even if they are one species, this would be a ecotype that is more suited to drier settings.



They are separated here because on is a wetland and floodplain plant, the other grows in dry uplands.  Some authors note that regardless of ID, they get planted without much regard for origin or drainage.

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Wikipedia. (2014-2025). Quercus laurifolia. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_laurifolia. Accessed 2026.


Wikipedia. (2008-2025). Quercus hemisphaerica. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_hemisphaerica. Accessed 2026.


Friedman, Melissa H., Michael G. Andreu, Heather V. Quintana, and Mary McKenzie. (2022). Quercus hemisphaerica , Darlington Oak. (Pub. FOR239/FR301). ( https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR301 ). Accessed 2026. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.

.

Burns, Russell M., and Barbara H. Honkala [Technical coordinators]. (1990). Silvics of North America: Volume 2. Hardwoods. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 654. ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/1548 ). Accessed 2026.


Huegel, Craig N. (2010). Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Minno, Marc, and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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