The Turkey Oak is a popular tree with aniamls who
use it for nesting and cover. This oak gets its name from its leaves which sometimes
resemble a turkey’s footprint.
Description
The Turkey Oak often grows 20 - 30 feet tall but may grow as tall
as 60 feet. The diameter of the trunk is one to two feet. Its contorted branches are stout
and spreading, forming an irregular, rounded, open crown.
Leaves
The leaves are alternate, simple and deeply divided into three or
five (rarely seven) lobes. The leaves are three to 12-inches long, and three to six inches
wide. Leaves are heavily veined, bright yellow-green and shiny on top with a paler
underside. In the fall, leaves turn yellow to red.
Flowers
Flowers appear with the leaves and are distinctly male or female.
Staminate flowers are slender, hairy and four to eight-inches long. Pistillate flowers are
on short, stout, hairy axillary stalks.
Fruit
The fruit of the Turkey Oak is a dull, light-brown acorn.
Generally, the acorn is 3/4-inch wide and one-inch long. It is sessile or
has a short stalk. The inside cup is hairy and encloses 1/3 to ½ of the
nut. Nuts may be found singly or in twos or threes.
Bark
The bark is gray to black and scaly ridged.
Landscape usage
This tree will add wonderful color in the fall, but when
established it will not tolerate excessive amounts of fertilizer or water. When creating a
naturalized landscape, the Turkey Oak can be used as a background tree. It provides
wonderful fall color and is highly drought tolerant.
Interesting fact
The Laevis part of the Turkey Oak’s scientific name is Latin
and means smooth. It refers to this tree's hairless leaves. The Turkey Oak prefers
well-drained areas and is commonly found with Longleaf Pine, Bluejack Oak and Dwarf Post
Oak.
