Accession Count: 0
Common Name:
netleaf oak
Family Name:
Fagaceae
Botanical Name:
Quercus rugosa
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Quercus rugosa is a large, slow-growing evergreen oak with a spreading, conical growth habit. Depending on the moisture available in the environment, its height will range between 20 to over 30 feet. Bark is either light or dark brown and has a characteristically rough, and scaly surface. Twigs are brown and turn gray with age, extending outward to form a broad, rounded crown. Its large, ovate leaves are usually cupped and have a coriaceous upper surface, given that it is sparsely pubescent; leaf margins are coarsely toothed. Green-yellow flowers bloom in inflorescences of short pistillate catkins during Spring. Acorns are borne in groups of three on slender axillary peduncles, a distinctive characteristic being its bright pink flesh (1, 2).
Compound:
Que rug
Geographic Origin:
Mountain Southwest
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Q. rugosa is native to southern North America, populating regions in southern United States (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico) to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. It is most abundant in the Sinaloa and Tamaulipas states of Mexico (3).
Cultivation Notes:
This evergreen oak is drought-tolerant and suitable for xeriscaping. For optimal growth, it should be grown under full sun and in moist soils that are either loamy, sandy, or calcareous. It is best propagated by seed or in vitro. Maintenance should be kept minimal, limited to the removal of crossing shoots in winter to promote healthy growth (2).
Ethnobotany:
The bark and leaves have a variety of medicinal uses among localities within Mexico. Namely, tonics made from its leaves are drunk to treat liver ailments, diarrhea and kidney stones. A tincture of the leaves with red wine and honey treats throat irritations. Additionally, the bark may be boiled to create a broth used to treat skin diseases. The wood is used for production of tools, pulp, and timber (4).
Height:
50 - 100 feet
Width:
20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Brown
Function:
Screen
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Semi-hardy
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
