Darlington Oak is an evergreen to a tardily deciduous native oak tree which grows rapidly to 60 feet or more and has a life span of about 50 years. In nature, it can be found in sandhills, dry hammocks, and other dry, sandy soils. It makes a good shade or street tree, is moderately salt-tolerant and prefers dry sandy soils. The leaves generally stay on the tree until new leaves are formed in spring. The acorns are biennial and loved by wildlife. It is a great tree for use in naturalized areas. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth ( Eacles imperialis ) , as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak ( Satyrium calanus ) , Edward's hairstreak ( Satyrium edwardsii ) , Gray hairstreak ( Strymon melinus ) , White-m hairstreak ( Parrhasius malbum ) , Horace's duskywing ( Erynnis horatius ) , and Juvenalis duskywing ( Erynnis juvenalis ) . The relatively short life span of the tree and its susceptibility to diseases and rot with maturity make it somewhat less desirable for home use. However, it does grow fast to provide quick shade. Consider Planting: Q. virginiana for better longevity. See other native oaks listed to the left for the southeastern USA. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Laurel Oak disease, a fungal pathogen identified in 2000, is deadly for this tree. Mites, gall wasps, leaf miners, and tent caterpillars can occur.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Pyramidal; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-5 inch long by 1-1.5 inch wide leaves are leathery, shiny and dark green. Undersides are paler. The margins are entire and the base is rounded. They fall about the time new leaves start emerging.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
Male flowers are produced in drooping greenish catkins. Female flowers are sessile or shore stalked.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/2 inch long dark brown stemless acorns are biennial and have a gray cup with scales covering up to 1/3 of the nut.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
The bark is dark brown with deep furrows producing flat ridges on mature trees. Young trees have smooth gray-brown bark.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Stems are light brown to gray, hairless, with small lenticels. Buds are reddish-brown.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South East U.S.A. to Texas
Distribution
AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TX , VA
Wildlife value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Mildly resistant to deer. Acorns are an important food source for wildlife. Oaks are a host plant for moths and butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds