# Myrtle Oak (*Quercus myrtifolia*)

The Myrtle Oak is a special tree that grows in warm places. Its leaves are small and shiny, and it provides homes for many animals. This tree is great for making shady spots to play under!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Myrtle Oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Quercus_georgiana_leaves_in_late_spring_05.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Adellefrank, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quercus_georgiana_leaves_in_late_spring_05.jpg)

## Appearance

The Myrtle Oak is a small evergreen tree or shrub with dense, rounded growth. It has small, stiff, oval-shaped leaves that are glossy dark green on top and paler underneath. Its bark is thin, smooth, and grayish-brown, and it produces tiny, dark brown acorns.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Fagales
- **Family:** Fagaceae
- **Genus:** Quercus

## Interesting facts

- Hundreds of tiny flowers, called catkins, dance in the wind each spring!
- It's a champion at growing in dry, sandy soils where other trees struggle!
- Its tiny acorns are a big snack for many Florida animals like squirrels!
- Myrtle Oak leaves feel tough, almost like they're made of leather!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Buster:** Myrtle Oak has small, thick, leathery leaves that help it save water, allowing it to survive in dry, sandy environments.
- **Sunshine Sipper:** Myrtle Oak has evergreen leaves, meaning it can photosynthesize and make food all year long, even in winter.
- **Fire Friend:** Myrtle Oak has the ability to resprout quickly from its roots after wildfires, helping it thrive in fire-prone areas.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 200-800 cm
- **Spread:** 150-600 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Eastern Grey Squirrel (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — consumes acorns
- **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses leaves and twigs
- **Eats:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — forages for acorns
- **Eats:** [Red-bellied Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-bellied-woodpecker) (*Melanerpes carolinus*) — stores and eats acorns

## Traits

- [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.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
- [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

Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and always look out for sharp branches.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Myrtle 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 Myrtle Oak?

200-800 cm

### How wide does Myrtle Oak spread?

150-600 cm

### How big are the flowers on Myrtle Oak?

2-5 cm

### When does Myrtle Oak bloom?

Spring

### Is Myrtle Oak edible?

No

### Is Myrtle Oak toxic?

Mild

### What is Myrtle Oak's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Myrtle Oak: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/myrtle-oak)