Quercus incana W. Bartram

Blue Jack Oak; Sand Jack Oak

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Blue Jack Oak is a small deciduous native tree in the Beech family (Fagaceae). It is native to the southern two-thirds of Alabama, but is most common in the southern half of the state. Blue Jack Oak occurs on xeric sites in sandhills, in longleaf pine forests, in scrub oak woodlands, on old dunes, and on hill tops. It is a small tree reaching 30-50 feet in height. The bark is thick, black, and broken into square plates. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, lanceolate to elliptic in outline, with entire margins. The upper surface of the leaf is glossy with rarely a few scattered hairs along the midrib or near the base. The lower surface of the leaf is densely grey pubescent. Male flowers are produced in drooping yellowish-red catkins. Female flowers are produced singly or in pairs on short stalks. The fruit is a nut. Acorns take two years to mature. The cup of the acorn is shallow and covers ¼ of the acorn. The acorns are consumed by many types of wildlife, including various species of birds, squirrels, raccoons, wild turkey, and deer. Blue Jack Oak is a common small tree or shrub in xeric sandy sites, often occurring with Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis Walter) and Sand Post Oak (Quercus margarettiae Ashe ex Small). When seen from a distance the trees have a blueish cast. Blue Jack Oak is tardily deciduous, and brown leaves often remain on the tree late into the year. Blue Jack Oak is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It is very drought tolerant, and its small size makes it better adapted to modern landscapes where other species of oaks may become too large.--A. Diamond

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Native

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