When does Post Oak bloom?

Post Oak produces its small, greenish catkin flowers in April and May, before the leaves fully expand.

How much water does Post Oak need?

Once established, Post Oak tolerates low water conditions well and is often found on dry, well drained sites where many other oaks struggle.

What kind of light does Post Oak need to grow well?

Post Oak grows best in full sun but can tolerate part sun and part shade, especially when young or growing at the edge of woodlands.

Do pollinators use Post Oak?

Post Oak flowers are wind pollinated, but bees and beetles visit the catkins to collect pollen, according to the Xerces Society.

How fast does Post Oak grow?

Post Oak is a slow growing tree, often taking many decades to reach mature height, which contributes to its dense, durable wood.

Is Post Oak toxic to livestock?

Post Oak is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (moderate severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.

Is Post Oak HOA-friendly?

Post Oak is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Post Oak

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Quercus stellata

Last reviewed: August 2026

Quercus stellata, or Post Oak, is a slow growing deciduous tree suited to dry, rocky or sandy soils and full sun. It flowers in April and May and tolerates drought better than many other oaks.

Post Oak (Quercus stellata) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Post Oak is listed as toxic to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) at a moderate level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

360"–720" H × 360"–720" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 24 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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.

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Post oak is a slow-growing, drought-tolerant native tree with distinctive cross-shaped leaves that turn yellow to brown in fall. It develops a broad, rounded crown and rugged bark, making it an excellent shade tree for dry sites.

Growing Post Oak

Grow Post Oak in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 360 to 720 inches tall and spread 360 to 720 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Post Oak is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, street edge, mid zone.

Very large mature size may overwhelm smaller properties
Slow growth means limited immediate impact

Wildlife value

Host plant for banded hairstreak, Juvenal's duskywing, Horace's duskywing.

This oak supports over 500 species of butterflies and moths as caterpillar host plant, while its acorns feed squirrels, deer, and many bird species. Spring flowers attract bees and beetles for pollination.

Common questions

When does Post Oak bloom?: Post Oak produces its small, greenish catkin flowers in April and May, before the leaves fully expand.
How much water does Post Oak need?: Once established, Post Oak tolerates low water conditions well and is often found on dry, well drained sites where many other oaks struggle.
What kind of light does Post Oak need to grow well?: Post Oak grows best in full sun but can tolerate part sun and part shade, especially when young or growing at the edge of woodlands.
Do pollinators use Post Oak?: Post Oak flowers are wind pollinated, but bees and beetles visit the catkins to collect pollen, according to the Xerces Society.
How fast does Post Oak grow?: Post Oak is a slow growing tree, often taking many decades to reach mature height, which contributes to its dense, durable wood.
Is Post Oak toxic to dogs?: Post Oak is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is Post Oak toxic to cats?: Post Oak is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is Post Oak toxic to livestock?: Post Oak is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (moderate severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
Is Post Oak HOA-friendly?: Post Oak is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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.

See all plant problem guides

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