Quercus pumila
Photo by Shirley Denton. Photograph belongs to the photographer who allows use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B
2002-2022, Copyright Florida Native Plant Society
Running Oak, Runner Oak
Fagaceae
Plant Specifics
| Size: | Typically 3 to 6 ft high, sometime higher, and forming clones. | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Green (inconspicuous) | |
| Fruit Color: | Brown | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen. Blooms early spring (inconspicuous). Fruits ripen the second fall. Clonal, a likely adaptation to fire. | |
| Habitats: | Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, scrubby sandhill. |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Forms a low thicket with many sprouts from underground stems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| Moisture Tolerance: | Not wet but not extremely dry ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil/Substrate: | Lime rock, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wildlife
Small mammals, including squirrels, 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
Larval host for Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) and white-M hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) butterflies.