Catesby's oak
Quercus laevis
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Catesby's oak (Quercus laevis) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
180"–600" H × 180"–360" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr
Native to
AL, FL, GA, LA and 4 more states
Pollinators
wind-pollinated
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
A deep-rooted oak with irregular, twisting branches and deeply lobed, glossy leaves that turn red in fall before dropping. It grows on dry sandy soils and has an open, picturesque rather than formal form.
Wildlife value
Host plant for banded hairstreak, red-spotted purple.
Oaks support more caterpillar species than almost any other native tree genus, and the acorns are a major food source for birds and mammals.
Common questions
- How much sun does Catesby's oak need?
- Catesby's oak grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Catesby's oak bloom?
- Catesby's oak blooms in March and April.
- Where is Catesby's oak native?
- Catesby's oak (Quercus laevis) is native to AL, FL, GA, LA and 4 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does Catesby's oak host?
- Catesby's oak is a larval host plant for banded hairstreak and red-spotted purple.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Catesby's oak? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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