FNPS Plant Database

Quercus stellata

post oak
  • Photo by: Pierre-Joseph Redouté, public domain
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

post oak

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Quercus stellata

Family:

Fagaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

40-50 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree. Branches may be quite twisty giving it an interesting form. Can also be used as a street tree and for ecosystem restoration.

Considerations:

Acorn drop can be a maintenance issue.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Not wet but not extremely dry -to- Very long very dry periods

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 to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

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 the white-M butterfly and Horace's duskywing.

Acorns appreciated by squirrels and other wildlife including some birds.

Native Habitats:

Sandhill, pine-oak-hickory woods.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

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.


Missouri Botanical Garden. (Undated). Plant Profile: Quercus stellata. ( https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a906 ). Accessed 2026. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO.


Univ. of Florida Dept. of Horticulture. (Undated). ( https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/Pages/queste/queste.shtml ). Accessed 2026. Dept. of Environmental Horticulture, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.


University of Tennessee Extension Service. (2010). Desired pH Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants. ( https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/10/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf ). Accessed 2026. University of Tennessee Extension, Knoxville.


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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