Virginia Tech Dendrology

gray oak Fagaceae Quercus grisea Liebm. symbol: QUGR3
Leaf: Alternate, deciduous (or nearly evergreen), simple, elliptical to ovate, 1 to 2 1/2 inches long, entire or a few teeth near pointed tip, leathery and stiff, rounded or heart-shaped base, gray-green to green above, dull and fuzzy beneath.
Flower: Species is monoecious; males in long drooping catkins, yellow-green; females very small spikes in leaf axils, appearing with the leaves.
Fruit: Oblong acorn, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, bowl shaped, scaly, finely hairy cap (may be stalked) covers 1/2 of nut, ripens in 1 season in early fall.
Twig: Moderate, light reddish brown, fine grayish fuzz; clustered terminal buds, sharp pointed and plump.
Bark: Light gray, splitting into loose plates.
Form: A shrub to medium sized tree up to 60 feet; on drier sites it is very shrubby with multiple stems. Larger trees have an irregular crown of stout, twisted branches.
Looks like: Emory oak - Arizona white oak - Mexican blue oak - shrub live oak

Additional Range Information: Quercus grisea is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 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