Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis):
•Status in Florida: Native
•Native Habitat: Sandhills, dry uplands, pine-oak forests
•Native State/Country: Southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi)
•Growing Zones: 8a, 8b, 9a
•Size at Maturity: 20 to 40 feet tall, 20 to 30 feet wide
•Phenology: Deciduous
•Life Cycle: Perennial
•Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
•Growth Habit: Upright, Irregular, Open canopy
•Bloom Season: Spring (catkins)
•Sunlight Requirements: Full
•Soil Texture: Sand, Loam
•Soil pH: Acidic to Neutral
•Moisture Requirements: Dry to Average
•Tolerance to Salt Spray: Low
•Keystone Plant: No
•Recommended Landscape Uses: Naturalized areas, xeriscaping, wildlife gardens, sandy upland restoration
•Maintenance Tips: Low maintenance; drought-tolerant once established; prune to maintain structure in younger trees
•Considerations: Deep roots help it tolerate dry, sandy soils; fast-growing but with a short lifespan relative to other oaks; wood is brittle and may suffer wind damage in storms
•Hurricane Wind Resistant: No
•Erosion Control: Yes
•Nitrogen Fixing: No
•Edible: No
•Pet Safe: Yes
•Deer and Rabbit Resistance: Moderate (saplings are browsed by deer, but older trees are more resistant)
•Historical Medicinal Uses: Acorns used by Indigenous peoples as food after processing to remove tannins
•Florida Native Companion Plant (matching growing conditions): Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), Gopher apple (Licania michauxii), Wiregrass (Aristida stricta)
•Wildlife Benefit: Provides food (acorns) for wildlife such as deer, squirrels, and birds; habitat for various insects
•Caterpillar Host Plant: Yes, hosts several butterfly and moth species, including the Oak hairstreak and Juvenal’s duskywing
•Propagation: Seed (acorns)
•Length of Time Seed is Viable: Acorns should be planted immediately after collection, as they lose viability quickly
•Best Month to Start Seeds: Fall
•Seed Treatments: No special treatment needed, but soaking acorns to check viability is recommended