Species › Plants › Blackjack Oak

Blackjack Oak

Quercus marilandica

CommonPlant
Illustration of Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica)

Blackjack Oak is a small, scraggly oak of the driest, most impoverished sandy and rocky soils in the central and eastern United States. Its distinctive three-lobed leaves are wider at the tip than the base, making them unmistakable. It is a stress-tolerant species that thrives where other oaks fail, often growing with post oak in 'Cross Timbers' habitat.

Habitat
Very dry sandy and rocky soils in open woodlands and barrens
Diet
Acorns eaten by wild turkey, deer, and various birds; thickets shelter wildlife
How common
Common

Best time to see a Blackjack Oak

The best time to see a Blackjack Oak is March–August, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 11,759 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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