Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Fagales>Fagaceae>Quercus stellata Wangenheim

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Post Oak is a fairly common large tree that is typical of drier habitats.

Granville Co., NC 5/25/09.

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Similar to White Oak (Quercus alba) but with thicker, cross-shaped leaves, stellate hairs on the undersides of the leaves (visible with a hand lens), and less flaky bark. In the Coastal Plain, compare with the Sand Post Oak (Quercus margaretta), which is smaller in stature and has less cross-shaped leaves.

Dare Co., NC 11/7/08.

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Dare Co., NC 11/7/08.

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Close-up showing stellate hairs on a leaf underside.

Dare Co., NC 11/7/08.

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Mature acorns.

Dare Co., NC 11/7/08.

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Mecklenburg Co., NC 10/18/02.

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Acorns.

Mecklenburg Co., NC 10/18/02.

Post Oak (Quercus stellata) bark

The bark is vertically ridged and relatively tight, not flaky.

Durham, NC 5/24/2009.

Post Oak (Quercus stellata) bark

This leafing-out large tree is likely a hybrid, as the leaves are not typical for Post Oak. Hybrids with White Oak are not unusual.

Chapel Hill, NC 4/10/10.

More information:
NC State Fact Sheet
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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