Quercus buckleyi

Common Names

Texas Red Oak, Buckley's Oak, Buckley Oak, Texas Oak, Spanish Oak, Spotted Oak, Rock Oak

Summary

Buckley’s oak is a deciduous tree native to Oklahoma and Texas that grows on limestone ridges, slopes, and creek bottoms at 150–500 m elevation. Typically 25–50 ft tall with a broad spread, it is often multi‑stemmed; leaves are alternate, elliptic to obovate with 5–9 deeply lobed, bristle‑tipped teeth, glossy dark green above and pale green with hair tufts in vein axils below, and autumn color is red to brownish red; bark on mature trunks is dark grey and becomes ridged with age; acorns mature in the second year and are accompanied by a shallow cup covering about one‑third to one‑half of the nut.

Full sun and well‑drained, alkaline‑tolerant soils suit this tree, which is drought‑tolerant and hardy in USDA zones 6–11; growth is slow when young and moderate later, making it well suited as an ornamental shade tree in warm, dry landscapes. Propagation is by seed with cold stratification; pruning is minimal; it produces autumn leaf litter and offers wildlife value as a shade species in parks and large gardens.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

30-50 feet

Spread

20–60 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-11

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun and Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, alkaline calcareous soil, deep, fertile loam.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.1-8.5, slightly acidic to alkaline, tolerates alkaline soil

Bloom Color

Green to yellow-green, White, Red

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green; turns red and orange in autumn.

Fall Foliage Color

Red to orange, including deep red and golden yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow to moderate growth; slow when young and moderate with age.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds (acorns, cold stratified) and Cuttings (hardwood cuttings in autumn)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds