Escarpment Live Oak

A standout species for Texas gardens, Escarpment Live Oak (Quercus fusiformis) is a evergreen tree native across the Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, and Texas Blackland Prairies. During Spring, the plant produces yellow blooms. Flowering is followed by ornamental dark brown 1/3 to 1/2 inch acorns that add seasonal interest. It plays a key ecological role as a larval host plant for Central Texas butterflies, including Skippers, Hairstreaks, Arizona Sister, and Horace's Duskywing. Many species of birds as well as squirrels use the tree for cover and the acorns for food. Best suited to calcareous, dry, gravelly, limestone, loam, and shallow, Escarpment Live Oak adapts seamlessly to local soil conditions. It requires minimal supplemental water and tolerates dry spells with ease.