Virginia Tech Dendrology

laurel oak Fagaceae Quercus laurifolia Michx. symbol: QULA3
Leaf: Alternate, simple, entire margins, occasionally with shallow lobes, widest near the middle, 3 to 5 inches long, 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide, thick and persistent, shiny above, pale and smooth below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; male flowers are yellow-green long catkins (1 1/2 to 3 inches long); females are green to reddish, very small spike in leaf axils, appearing with the leaves.
Fruit: Acorn, 1/2 to 2/3 inch long, nearly round, dark brown and striated, cap is usually shallow but may cover up to 1/3 of acorn, cap has tight reddish brown scales.
Twig: Slender, light reddish brown, hairless, buds are sharp pointed reddish brown and clustered at twig ends.
Bark: Dark brown and initially smooth, it later develops shallow fissures with flat, rough ridges.
Form: Medium size tree to 60 feet, straight trunk, 1 to 3 feet in diameter, rounded crown.
Looks like: water oak - willow oak - shingle oak - Darlington oak

Additional Range Information: Quercus laurifolia is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color - Landowner Factsheet
External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America - USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information