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Myrtle Oak

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Native Trees in The Gardens

Myrtle Oak

  • ​​​​Common Name: Myrtle Oak
  • Scientific Name: Quercus myrtifolia
  • Family Name: Fagaceae
  • Origin: Florida
  • Height: 15 to 20 ft, rarely reaching 35 ft
  • Width: 8 to 10 ft
  • Growth: Slow
  • Zone: USDA Zones 8A through 10B
  • Light needs: Full sun
  • Salt tolerance: Moderate salt spray tolerance. Low tolerance of saltwater inundation.
  • Soil/pH/Texture: Grows in well-drained, sandy soils with an acidic pH less than 7.0. Tolerant of poor soil.
  • Moisture: Low water needs.
  • Drought tolerance: High
  • Pests/Diseases: No major pests or diseases.
  • Growing conditions: Grow myrtle oak in a dry, sunny area. It grows easily in low-nutrient soils and does not require supplemental water once established, making it a very low-maintenance tree. Ensure that this tree is not planted in a low area or any area prone to flooding, as it is very sensitive to water inundation. It is suitable for coastal plantings, but it should not receive too much salt spray or any saltwater inundation, so make sure it is protected by other plants/dunes. 
  • Characteristics: This short, shrubby oak has a short, rather thin trunk and a multitude of twiggy, interlacing branches. The bark is gray and fissured vertically. The leaves are evergreen, alternately arranged, and glabrous. Leaf shape varies from elliptic to obovate and is generally wider and more rounded than other oaks. Flowers are small, green, inconspicuous catkins. Acorns are rather short and compact with a scaly cap; color of the nut varies.
  • Propagation: By seeds and by cuttings.
  • Wildlife: Provides cover for wildlife. Mammals and birds use the acorns as a food source. It is also a larval food source for several hairstreak butterfly species. It also hosts various planthopper insects.
  • Facts: This plant is named for its leaves, which resemble myrtle leaves. It occurs naturally in Florida in coastal scrublands and pine flatwoods.
  • Designer considerations: Well-suited for coastal plantings. It also makes a good screening plant due to its shrubby stature and interlacing branches. If given enough time, it can grow large enough to be suitable as a small shade tree for sidewalks and branches.