Catesby's oak
Quercus laevis
Last reviewed: August 2026
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 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA 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.
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