POST OAK
Native to Georgia
Family: fagaceae
Originally named by early 1800s cattle ranchers for its use in fence posts, the post oak's strong, rot-resistant wood has made it a staple in various applications from construction to barbecue.
The scientific species name stellata means“covered with stars”referring to the tufts of downy hairs that cover the underside of the leaves.
Texas Barbecue:
Post oak is a key ingredient in Texas barbecue, imparting a distinctive smoky flavor to the meat, especially brisket.
Urban Forestry:
Post oak's attractive crown and ability to tolerate dry sites have led to its use in urban forestry.
Post oak acorns are relatively small, egg-shaped, and have a bowl-shaped cap that covers about one-third of the acorn. They are a valuable food source for wildlife, including wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, squirrels.
Fall Color: Fall color is variable, often unremarkable. Leaves turn yellowish to golden brown and may persist through winter
Bark is ashy gray with a ridged blocky pattern
The grey to reddish brown bark is
similar to white oak but usually has more
defined ridges. Post oak never displays the large flaky bark appearance characteristic of white oak.
Catkins as male flowers:
Post oaks, like many other oak species, are monoecious, meaning they have separate male and female flowers on the same tree. The catkins are the male flowers, responsible for producing pollen.
Leaves usually have 5-7 lobes. Leaf often distinctly cross-shaped, with blocky, almost-rectangular side-lobes. Color of leaf undersides averages more yellowish. Leaves are tougher and more leathery in texture. Top surfaces of leaf are darker green, and sometimes more yellowish. They may be dull, but average shinier.
