Quercus hemisphaerica

Common Names

Darlington Oak, Laurel Oak, Oaks, Sand Laurel Oak, Upland Laurel Oak

Summary

Quercus hemisphaerica, commonly known as Darlington Oak, Laurel Oak, or Sand Laurel Oak, is a fast-growing evergreen to tardily deciduous oak native to the southeastern United States from Texas to Delaware, typically reaches 40–60 ft tall with a 30–40 ft spread, forms a dense canopy, and bears glossy, leathery leaves that are elliptical to oblong-obovate, 1–4 inches long, with margins that are entire or only shallowly lobed, acorns are small, about 1/2 inch long, and the tree occurs on dry sandy soils such as sandhills and dunes, often in upland sites, bark is gray to dark brown, smooth on young trees and maturing to fissured with age, this species is valued as a shade or street tree and supports wildlife with its foliage and acorns, cultivation emphasizes full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils, it tolerates hot summers and drought and thrives in USDA zones 6a–9b, propagation is by seed, acorns should be collected when brown and sown promptly to preserve viability, with moist, cool storage possible for short periods, pruning is recommended to maintain a single central trunk and limit branch diameter, Laurel Oak disease, a fungal pathogen identified in 2000, can be deadly, and other pests such as mites and leaf miners may occur, widely planted in the southern United States for large landscapes and naturalized areas, it provides wildlife value and has ornamental and shade applications.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

40-60 feet

Spread

35-40 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun or Partial Shade

Soil Type

Dry, well-drained sandy soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, dry, sandy soils

Soil pH

<6.0-8.0, Prefers acidic soils, Intolerant of alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Yellow to Green

Bloom Time

Spring (Flowers in March–April)

Foliage Color

Dark green above, paler underneath.

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color

Leaf Lifecycle

Semi-deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Seed and semi-hardwood cuttings, Vegetative (root-suckering)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, butterflies, and other pollinators