# post oak (*Quercus stellata*) The post oak is a strong tree with a wide trunk and beautiful leaves. It grows in many places and provides shade for animals and people alike. Its acorns are a tasty treat for squirrels and birds! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Forests ![post oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Quercus_stellata_tree.jpg&width=800) Photo: Choess, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quercus_stellata_tree.jpg) ## Appearance The post oak has distinctively lobed leaves, often appearing cross-shaped and leathery, with a dark green top and fuzzy, lighter underside. Its thick, rough, deeply furrowed bark is usually gray-brown, and the tree often forms a rugged, spreading crown. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Its hard, rot-resistant wood was once vital for fence posts, hence its name! - Look closely at its leaves; they often resemble a cross or a blunt hand shape! - Some bugs create tiny "galls" on post oak leaves, looking like tiny alien homes! - Young post oak leaves can be covered in tiny star-shaped hairs for protection! ## Special abilities - **Fire Shield:** Post oaks have thick, fire-resistant bark that helps protect the inner wood from low-intensity wildfires, allowing them to regrow and thrive. - **Drought Master:** This tree can grow a deep taproot to reach water far underground, helping it survive long dry periods where other plants might wilt. - **Tough Soil Thrive:** Post oaks have a special ability to grow well in poor, rocky, or sandy soils where many other trees struggle, making them hardy pioneers. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1200-2500 cm - **Spread:** 900-1800 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Collects and consumes its nutritious acorns. - **Eaten by:** [Promethea Silkmoth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/promethea-silkmoth) (*Callosamia promethea*) — Its caterpillars feed on post oak leaves. - **Shelter:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — Uses post oak branches for nesting and perching. - **Eats:** [Ruffed Grouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruffed-grouse) (*Bonasa umbellus*) — Forages on its acorns and buds. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [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. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [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 clear of falling branches and be gentle around trees. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify post 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 post oak? 1200-2500 cm ### How wide does post oak spread? 900-1800 cm ### How big are the flowers on post oak? 1-5 cm ### When does post oak bloom? Spring ### Is post oak edible? No ### Is post oak toxic? Mild ### What is post oak's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ashley River Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashley-river-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyndon-b-johnson-national-grassland) — Texas, US · National Park - [Double Trouble State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/double-trouble-state-park) — New Jersey, US · State Park - [Kingstree Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kingstree-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Long Point Wildlife Refuge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-point-wildlife-refuge) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Pickwick Landing State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pickwick-landing-state-park) — Tennessee, US · State Park [View all places to see post oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/post-oak) ## 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: [Post Oak: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/post-oak)