Quercus myrtifolia

Common Names

Myrtle Oak

Summary

Myrtle Oak is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the southeastern United States, with a broad, rounded crown and a tendency to form thickets. It occurs in dry sandy habitats such as dunes, hammocks, sandhills, dry ridges, and oak scrub, and features dark green, leathery leaves with margins entire and often revolute; leaves measure roughly 0.8–3 inches long by 0.4–2 inches wide. Gray bark is smooth, aging to dark brown near the base; flowers are inconspicuous green catkins in spring; fruits are brown acorns produced biennially, serving as wildlife food.

In cultivation, it prefers full sun and dry, well-drained sandy soils, with drought tolerance once established and a tolerance for mildly acidic soils. Hardiness zones 8A–10B apply; salt tolerance is moderate, with limited tolerance to prolonged salt/flooding and moderate salt spray tolerance. Landscape uses include dune stabilization and as an accent in sunny, dry plantings, with a wildlife habitat value since acorns support various animals. Propagation is by seed; outplanting should protect seeds from herbivores and high salinity, burying acorns at a depth roughly equal to their diameter and placing plants in depressions to mimic natural dune-building and reduce initial drought stress.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

15-20 ft

Spread

8-10 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8a-10b

Sunlight Requirements

Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.1-6.5

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Dark green (glossy) foliage with yellowish-green undersides

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, attracts birds