Quercus shumardii
Shumard oak

Notes:

Codominant leaders should be removed in youth; the tree will fill in with maturity. Yes, I just copied that wording straight from Q. buckleyi, but hey, so did UFL.

Pyramidal in youth, broader with age, and having the advantage over Q. palustris that branches are horizontal to upswept instead of drooping. Dirr reports a 10' seedling in 3 years. Young trees hold leaves into winter.

Easier than other oaks to transplant, but still needs deep soil. Tolerance of soil compaction is debated. NCSU and Cal Poly outnumber USDA on the question of clay tolerance.

Poor compartmentalizer of decay (which makes it even more important to remove codominant leaders in youth, rather than later on when they would leave large wounds).

Rated superior in Auburn University's shade tree trials.

Sources: Sunset, Stoecklein, UFL, Missouri BG, Cal Poly, UConn, Dirr, USDA, Dirr/Warren.

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Tags:

acidic soil preferred
attracts:birds (ex-humming)
attracts:larval host
attracts:mammals
branches strong
clay tolerant
coarse texture
deer resistant
drought tolerant
easy to grow
exposure:full sun
fall color notable
fast-growing
form:tree
habit:conical/pyramidal
habit:irregular
habit:oval
habit:rounded
habit:spreading/wide
infertile soil tolerant
litter:fruit
litter:leaves
long-lived
native:eastern North America
persistence:deciduous
pest/disease free
pollution tolerant
pruning required
rich soil preferred
roots:deep
roots:low damage potential
salt intolerant
sandy soil tolerant
type:broadleaf
use:shade tree
use:specimen
use:street
water:moderate to little
water:regular
wet soil tolerant


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