Quercus incana

Common Names

Bluejack Oak, Cinnamon Oak, Sandjack Oak, Turkey Oak, Upland Willow Oak, Shin Oak

Summary

Bluejack Oak is a native deciduous shrub or small to mid-sized tree of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from southeastern Virginia to central Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma, it typically reaches about 30–55 feet tall with an open, irregular crown and stout, crooked branches, the bark is dark brown to black and becomes thick and corky with square plates, leaves are blue-green and glossy above, densely tomentose beneath, 3–10 cm long and 1.2–3.5 cm wide with entire margins, flowers occur as catkins in spring, and acorns about 10–18 mm long mature biennially, it grows in well-drained sandy soils of barrens, dunes, hammocks, and upland ridges, often in longleaf pine communities, and is fire-adapted, sometimes forming thickets by sprouting vigorously from the root crown after top-kill and via underground runners, in cultivation it tolerates hardiness zones 6–9, prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained sandy soils, and is drought-tolerant with low water needs, it does not tolerate inundation by salty water or direct salt spray and root disturbance, it is not invasive and provides wildlife mast, with acorns serving as wildlife food, it is a host plant for Imperial moth larvae and for several butterfly species, in landscapes it can serve as a shade tree in sandy soils and contributes habitat value in longleaf pine ecosystems, prescribed fire is often used to maintain open scrub-oak or longleaf pine habitats

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

35-50 feet

Spread

25-45 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun, tolerates partial sun and partial shade, does not tolerate dense shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils

Soil pH

Acidic (pH < 6.0)

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring (April to May)

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow-growing.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Rooted cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies and birds