Northern Limits of the Quercus Lyrata

Identification

• Overcup oak’s species name -- lyrata -- comes from the shape of its leaves, which look like lyres. Each leaf has 5 to 9 rounded lobes, and can be as long as 10 inches and as wide as 4. The leaves are deep green on top, with fuzzy white undersides. They usually turn yellow in fall, but may turn orange or red further north. Overcup oaks often don’t start producing the quintessential acorns for which oaks are well-known until they are 25 or 30 years old. When they do, acorns are usually an inch or so long.

Hardiness Range

• Overcup oaks, like most oaks, prefer warmer weather. The tree is native to areas of the southeastern United States, preferring wet or swampy conditions along bayous and swamps. It also thrives in floodplains, lowlands and swamp forests. Its native areas include the stretches between Florida and Texas, north to New Jersey and the Illinois-Indiana area. Although it is not often grown there, you can plant it in Midwestern states such as Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming, and even up into Pacific northwestern states such as Montana and Idaho. Trees grown further north will likely have deeper fall color and will not change as quickly, as days remain longer the closer they are to the poles.

Culture

• The low-maintenance overcup oak has evolved to tolerate very wet conditions and has only a moderate drought tolerance. It likes consistent soil moisture, preferring to grow in moist to wet loams where its roots will permit occasional flooding. Although an acidic loam is ideal, overcup oak will also tolerate slightly alkaline conditions and sand or clay soil. It will grow in partial shade or partial sun, but prefers full sun.

Garden Uses

• This is a good tree if you want a low-maintenance planting, as it requires little pruning to attain a good shape and its limbs are not prone to breakage. It makes a nice shade tree on lawns or other open areas, and its water tolerance makes it ideal for planting in sometimes-flooded areas where other trees will not grow. It also grows well in urban environments, but is not often available at nurseries.