About Overcup Oaks

Geography

• The geographic range of this oak species extends as far north as Delaware along the East Coast, with the tree present in eastern portions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, nearly all of Georgia and Alabama, all of Mississippi, northwestern sections of Florida, much of Louisiana and parts of East Texas. The overcup oak grows in the eastern half of Arkansas, southeast Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana and western Kentucky and Tennessee.

Size and Form

• In a wild scenario, overcup oak sometimes reaches 100 feet tall. The tree is much smaller in cultivation, usually in the range of between 30 and 40 feet. Its width normally matches its height and the trunk diameters vary between 12 and 30 inches. The branches often begin on the trunk just a few feet above the ground, and the crown of an overcup oak has a rounded form. The limbs in many cases have a droopy appearance.

Foliage

• Leaves on an overcup oak have an oblong, narrow shape, with between seven to 11 lobes. The lobes possess rounded ends, with some featuring a short point. The leaves have a leathery texture, and the upper surface is dark green, as opposed to the whitish shade of green on the undersides. In autumn, overcup oak leaves change color to brown or rusty red hues.

Acorns and Bark

• Examination of the acorns reveals the fruit of the overcup oak is almost round. Growing to an inch in length, the acorn has a warty cap covering nearly its entire surface. This gives the tree its common name, as the cup enclosing the acorn makes the acorn difficult to see. Squirrels, wild hogs, deer and turkeys devour the acorns, notes the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The bark of this tree is gray-brown to red, giving the species some ornamental flair; some landscapers highlight the tree by training a permanent light on its trunk at night.

Growing Conditions

• In a natural venue, the overcup oak has little problem developing near swamps, in floodplains and in areas featuring clay soils. Take advantage of its ability to thrive in damp places by planting it in the moist parts of your landscape where other species of trees struggle to adapt. The tree tolerates flooding and ground that drains slowly, but does well in areas where the soil drains and the ground is of average texture. Plant the overcup oak in full sun. The tree prefers acidic soil.