The photos do not show any significant damage to the vascular system and it appears to be more superficial in nature. Some can only be distinguished by looking at the "hairs" on their stems, the colors of their acorn caps, or the number and shape of the lobes on their leaves. It looks healthy overall. Their acorn cups are brown and hairless. Their inner bark is orange but less red than that of the northern red oak. Otherwise I'll just have to wait an awfully long time to see what its bark looks like. I love to play the identification game, seeing if I know which oak is which. Post oak trees that suffer from chestnut blight will have cankers that cause the bark to peel and often experience excessive die back. Their bark is dark and furrowed, and their wood is good for splitting and burning. The leaves are the unique feature of the Quercus stellata, Post oak. The trunk bark is light-gray and has shallow grooves. Chestnut blight fungus is the cause of the near elimination of the American chestnut tree from eastern hardwood forests. I have voted this up, interesting and useful and shared and pinned. Many types of oak can also cross with other types, so there is great potential for new species to be reported and characterized. Southern red oaks, sometimes called Spanish oaks, prefer sandy upland soil and are often confused with cherrybark oaks. Their inner bark is red-orange. Post oak trees that suffer from chestnut blight will have cankers that cause the bark to peel and often experience excessive die back. But did you know there are more than 60 different species of oak trees in the United States alone? Elena from London, UK on August 08, 2012: Very interesting and unique Hub. LongTimeMother from Australia on January 28, 2013: I planted an oak tree today. The acorns is highly valued by wildlife such as … Their leaves have many pairs of rounded teeth—sometimes as many as 16. Their leaves are lobed, and the lobes have multiple points but are not as long as those of other red oak group members (like the scarlet oak). Post oak is a white oak and it acorns only take 1 year to form and drop unlike red oaks which require two years. Most oaks fall into one of two main categories—white and red. Post oak is a white oak and it acorns only take 1 year to form and drop unlike red oaks which require two years. Heights range from 60 to 150 feet and generally depend on the environment each tree grows in. Leaves front and back, summer and fall. I actually thought oak was oak. In-depth descriptions and bark/leaf photos of each species appear below in the order they are presented in this table. Sometimes called the "mossycup oak" because of the fringe on its acorn cups, this tree usually grows to be more than 80 feet tall and can reach heights of up to 150 feet. But I love living in the woods--there's always something happening that's interesting. Red oak leaves usually come to a point at the end of each lobe, while the lobes of white oak leaves tend to be rounded. There are way too many trees for me to recommend to you! The bark is much like that of a white oak and the acorns are a half inch long or slightly longer and covers 1/3 to 1/2 of the acorn. Oaks of this species are often between 70 and 150 feet tall with trunk diameters easily reaching 4 feet. © 2020 Arborilogical Services, Inc - All rights reserved, Question and Answer: Post Oak Shedding Bark, City of Dallas Urban Forest Advisory Committee. Answer: We referred your question to our tree expert, Steve Houser owner of a local tree care company, who said that your tree appears to be a post oak and that the bark … Each week, Mr. Sperry will offer tips and instructions for making the most of your North Texas garden. Question: When should I trim dead oak branches? Rachel worked as a farm manager for 3 years in Pennsylvania. Acorns seem to be very tiny. These are medium-sized trees that usually grow to between 40 to 50 feet tall, with trunk diameters ranging from 1 to 2 feet and occasionally reaching 3. I looked at the acorns on 9/28/2009 and they were still tiny. The leaves tend to be leathery and feature cross-shaped lobes. Many types of oak can also cross with other types, so there is great potential for new species of oak to be reported and characterized. D.F., Colleyville. Some can only be distinguished by looking at the \"hairs\" on their stems, or the color of their acorn caps, or the number and shape of lobes on their leaves. Scarlet oak can be hard to split, but it makes good firewood nonetheless. Scientifically, the post oak is known as Quercus stellata. Trunk diameters for bur oaks typically range from 2 to 3 feet. I really enjoyed writing this one; I just love oak trees. Red oaks tend to have pointier lobes on their leaves compared to white oaks, and their acorns take two years to mature. Mr. Sperry, a McKinney resident, hosts Neil Sperry’s Texas Gardening from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sundays on WBAP-AM (820). It looks healthy overall. :). Get a Quote This species' common name may derive from its historical use in the making of fence posts. This is a relatively small oak species, ranging in height from 50 to 70 feet with average trunk diameters of 1 to 2 feet. A friend gave it to my husband as a gift. Oak tree bark: Thick fissured bark that is a light gray color identifies the post oak tree. I'm more the wiser now, thanks to you. List goes on and on! I'm really lucky to have so many different varieties growing around me. Open spaces allow the eastern white oak to branch out and develop a wide silhouette, whereas those growing in a denser forest tend to become taller. are deciduous or evergreen acorn-bearing trees known for their often imposing sizes. This species is very large but sometimes not as tall as other oaks. You can get test kits cheap on the internet and even free from your Extension office. Black oak also tends to split well and make very good firewood. Question: What is the proper name of the gray oak? Once you know what's up with your soil, you can ask the Extension for their expertise. D.F., Colleyville, Answer: We referred your question to our tree expert, Steve Houser owner of a local tree care company, who said that your tree appears to be a post oak and that the bark shedding is probably not cause for alarm. But did you know there are more than 60 different species of oak trees in the United States alone? Rachel Koski Nielsen (author) from Pennsylvania, now farming in Minnesota on January 12, 2018: @Ernst Hall - though there is debate about this, q. virginiana is classified as a white oak! Woodpeckers can cause this type of damage, but it is typically in a tree that has active borers in the trunk.”. Answer: You should do a soil test where you want to plant the trees. If you have extremely harsh winters, you can wait until the spring. White oaks tend to have rounder lobes on their leaves compared to red oaks, and their acorns take only one year to mature. FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : Post oak is moderately resistant to fire [].It is less tolerant than blackjack oak, about as tolerant as black oak [5,21], and slightly more tolerant than southern red oak [].The basal bark on mature trees is medium thick, and stands of post oak are moderately open [].Smaller trees are easily killed by fire, but sprout vigorously from the root collar []. Straight-grained red oak splits very nicely into fence boards and roof shingles and is known to burn hot and split well for firewood. The post oak is very drought resistant. A valuable timber species, post oak grows on dry, sandy soils or rocky slopes. The shiny leaves of these trees are variable but are usually divided into two or more portions and display the typical rounded lobes of the white oak group. But if it is very straight-grained, it could be worth more for other uses. Eastern white oak leaves are usually evenly lobed and a bit whiteish on their undersides. Chestnut blight fungus is the cause of the near elimination of the American chestnut tree from eastern hardwood forests. No point waiting to see how tall it grows. I love oak trees for several reasons, one being their inherent beauty, and another being the many uses of their wood—fence posts, fence rails, barrels, casks, boards, and furniture are just a few. What type, red or white, is the Live Oak - Quercus virginiana? The smaller trunk diameter makes squaring these logs easy and fast, and the rot-resistant wood makes for long-lasting fence material. Right now the squirrels are working the oak trees--in fact, I have to wear a hat when I go outside to help cushion my head from the falling acorns! Here’s his note: “The problem is most likely to be squirrels that peel off small pieces of the bark. Learn more at neilsperry.com. Question: I live on land that was once a pine tree preserve. The genus name Quercus is derived from the Celtic words quer and cuez, which means "fine" and "tree," respectively. Eastern white oak wood also burns very hot, so it's a great choice for home-heating or cooking with wood. Pin oaks are very similar to scarlet oaks, but their buds are hairless, and in the wild, they typically grow many small, "pin-like" branches. It's a tiny tree with just a few leaves but it holds the promise of providing a shady corner in the garden sometime in the future. Form: A small to Medium sized tree up to 65 feet tall with a crown that has gnarled and twisted branches. I've even written about the value of oak (and other hardwoods) as firewood. There’s nothing quite like standing under a giant, ancient oak with a five-foot trunk diameter and gazing up into the treetop. Rachel Koski Nielsen (author) from Pennsylvania, now farming in Minnesota on August 02, 2012: Grandmapearl - Thanks so much for the votes and shares! Post oak is a small to medium-sized tree with a broad, rounded crown and stout, sometimes contorted branches. The post oak is susceptible to chestnut blight fungus (cryphonectria parasitica). I didn't always know there were so many different types of trees, either. White oak acorns take one year to reach maturity, while red oak acorns take two years. No cause for alarm unless the damage becomes more extensive in the future. Their trunk bark is also more deeply ridged than that of other white oak species. Quercus stellata - Post oak; This page includes photos of bark. Trunk diameters range from 3 to 5 feet. To identify the post oak, look for its short stature and huge spreading crown. Post oaks grow to between 33 and 50 ft. (10 – 15 m) and have a thick trunk. Question: What would have caused our post oak tree to shed bark? Most people know what an oak tree is and can probably even identify certain trees as oaks when they see them. Pay A Bill. Their leaves are their best identifier and are usually glossy or shiny on top, which distinguishes them from the leaves of most other red oak trees. Answer: Quercus grisea; it is in the white oak group. This list includes a few of the more common white and red oak species found in the US and a little information about how to identify them. The post oak is a type of white oak tree that is one of the smaller species in the genus Quercus. Post oak bark is brown rather than gray and has shallow cracks that create the look of rectangular boxes. Their bark is medium-dark to dark-gray and furrowed. These trees generally grow to between 70 and 100 feet tall, with trunk diameters ranging from 3 to 4 feet. It was turned into farming land and then as land for a residence. Their leaves have only three lobes, and the lobes tend to be irregularly spaced. Your hub has inspired me to take a look at the parent tree and see if I can find any clues about which type or oak tree it is. Find out more about how this website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Answer: In the fall. I love "hunting" oak in the woods on and surrounding the property where I live. Published April 25, 2012 By NEIL SPERRY and STEVE HOUSER, Question:  What would have caused our post oak tree to shed bark? Which tree would be perfect for this type of soil? Another good way to differentiate white from red oaks is the shape of the leaf lobes. The tree species listed in this section are red oaks that are common in the US. The post oak is susceptible to chestnut blight fungus (cryphonectria parasitica). They prefer dry soil, and their leaves are more deeply lobed than those of their close red oak relatives. Connie Smith from Southern Tier New York State on August 02, 2012: Very interesting and informative article FarmerRachel! Thanks for the great info. Learn to identify a few of the more common oak species based on their bark, leaves, and other characteristics. Answer: Sure, as firewood. You can tell pin oaks from other red oaks by their downward-sloping lower branches. A member of the beech family, oak trees (Quercus spp.) Here’s his note: “The problem is most likely to be squirrels that peel off small pieces of the bark. The tree species listed in this section are white oaks that are common in the US. Rachel Koski Nielsen (author) from Pennsylvania, now farming in Minnesota on August 08, 2012: Lady_E - Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Question: Is the northern red oak worth any money? They produce excellent wood for all varieties of interior and exterior construction and are known for their phenomenal rot-resistance. Commonly, the post oak is also called the iron oak or the cross oak. These medium-sized to large trees typically grow to between 70 and 100 feet tall with trunk diameters averaging 2 to 3 feet. The acorns is highly valued by … Bark: Ashy gray and initially quite scaly, later becoming more blocky and ridged, very similar to white oak. She owned and operated a small farm in Minnesota for 5 years, until 2019. Most people know what an oak tree is, and can probably even identify at least one type of oak tree when they see it. Occasionally, it appears in … Their trunk bark is typically light-gray and furrowed. These are huge trees that can easily reach heights of over 100 feet and trunk diameters of more than 4. I didn't know there were different types. The bark is much like that of a white oak and the acorns are a half inch long or slightly longer and covers 1/3 to 1/2 of the acorn. Leaves are alternate, simple, 4–7 inches long, 3–4 inches wide, leathery; with 3–5 lobes, middle lobes squarish, resembling a cross, the end lobe often 3-notched, notches between lobes deep, rounded; upper surface dark green; lower surface paler, with tiny star-shaped hairs. Post oak bark is thick and gray: blocky or scaly in youth, deeply fissured with plate-like scales at maturity. There are other oaks and evergreen oaks often referred to as "live oaks", but they might not be white oaks if they aren't the real Virginia live oak deal. These trees are large, usually growing to between 70 and 100 feet tall, with trunk diameters easily reaching 3 feet. Answer: We referred your question to our tree expert, Steve Houser owner of a local tree care company, who said that your tree appears to be a post oak and that the bark shedding is probably not cause for alarm. The bark on their trunks tends to be very dark, whereas most other white oak group members have light-gray bark. The species name, stellata, means "small star." This species can be found as far north as Massachusetts and as far west as Iowa and Texas. I have a pin oak, but I love tall trees. Glad you liked the article!