# Buckley's oak (*Quercus buckleyi*) Buckley's oak is a special tree that grows in warm places. It has beautiful leaves and strong branches, making it a great home for birds and other animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Buckley's oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Quercus_buckleyi_leaves.jpg&width=800) Photo: georgiakharper, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quercus_buckleyi_leaves.jpg) ## Appearance The Buckley's oak is a medium-sized tree with deeply lobed leaves that often turn brilliant scarlet to orange in fall. Its bark is dark gray to black, and acorns are oval, partially enclosed by a shallow, scaly cap. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Buckley's oak bark sometimes has 'galls' – tiny homes for insects! - Its acorns take two whole years to fully grow and mature! - The leaves can turn a fiery red or orange, even in dry climates! - This tough tree can grow in rocky, thin soil where other trees cannot! ## Special abilities - **Drought Buster Roots:** Buckley's oak can grow extremely deep roots that help it find water in dry, rocky soils and survive long droughts. - **Acorn Powerhouse:** Buckley's oak produces many acorns, which provide vital food for wildlife and help it reproduce successfully. - **Tannin Defense:** Buckley's oak has special chemicals called tannins that make its leaves taste bitter, helping to deter hungry animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1000-2500 cm - **Spread:** 800-2000 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses its leaves and twigs - **Eats:** [Eastern gray squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — collects and consumes its acorns - **Eats:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — caches acorns, helping to spread seeds - **Shelter:** [White-breasted nuthatch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-breasted-nuthatch) (*Sitta carolinensis*) — nests in its bark crevices ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths when exploring near trees and be careful of falling branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Buckley's oak? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Buckley's oak? 1000-2500 cm ### How wide does Buckley's oak spread? 800-2000 cm ### When does Buckley's oak bloom? Spring ### Is Buckley's oak edible? Yes ### Is Buckley's oak toxic? Mild ### What is Buckley's oak's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Buckley's oak pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Friedrich Wilderness Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/friedrich-wilderness-park) — Texas, US · Nature Reserve ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Buckley's oak: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/buckleys-oak)