Quercus lyrata

Common Names

Overcup Oak, Swamp Post Oak, Swamp White Oak, Water White Oak

Summary

Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata) is a native deciduous tree of central and southeastern North America, thriving in floodplain forests, wetlands, and bottomlands. It has a broad rounded crown on a straight trunk and typically grows 40–60 feet tall with a similar spread. Leaves are large, dark green, deeply lobed with a fuzzy white underside; acorns are large with corky caps that nearly cover two-thirds of the nut and are buoyant, aiding water dispersal. In cultivation, it prospers in full sun to partial shade on acidic, moist loams and tolerates wet soils and clay, with hardiness in USDA zones 5–9. It is highly flood-tolerant and suited to bottomlands and other wet sites; young plants benefit from deep, infrequent watering and early placement in a permanent position due to a deep taproot. In landscapes it serves as a shade tree and wildlife habitat; wood is hard, close-grained, and durable for lumber and cooperage, and acorns provide wildlife food.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

360-1181 inches

Spread

40-60 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soils

Soil pH

No exact ideal pH, tolerates a wide range from acidic to slightly alkaline, 4.5-7.5

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring (mid-spring around April or May)

Foliage Color

Dark green, with paler gray-green underside.

Fall Foliage Color

Red, Yellow, Brown, Yellow-Brown, Orange, Copper

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow-growing; height increases about 12–24 inches per year, slower than many related species

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds (acorns) and vegetative propagation (stump sprouts, grafting)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds and butterflies