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Native Plant Society of Texas

Escarpment Live Oak

Quercus fusiformis

Other common name(s):

Plateau Live Oak, Hill Country Live Oak, Texas Live Oak, Scrub Live Oak, Plateau Oak, Encino Molino, Tesmoli

Family:

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Limestone Plains
Stockton Plateau
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

20
to
60
ft.

Spread

10
to
40
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Loam, Gravelly, Calcareous, Shallow, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Very Low, Low

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Nuts, Larval Host, Nesting Material

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Slow growing. Very drought tolerant. Needs a large open space. Evergreen but sheds leaves in spring as new leaves emerge. It is in the white oak group and therefore less susceptible to oak wilt. Nearly identical in appearance to, and considered much hardier than, Q. virginiana. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms March-May. A thicket-forming shrub or large, spreading tree. Leaves are firm textured and oval to elliptic in shape. They are usually without lobes except on young plants that have pointed lobes. Tiny flowers are arranged on a catkin. The fruit is an acorn that is spindle-shaped (fusiform), narrowed at the base compared to the similar Q. virginiana. Larval host: Hairstreak and Horace’s Duskywing butterflies.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Quercus virginiana var. fusiformis

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Before planting, the seeds must first undergo stratification, a process of exposing them to cool temperatures, typically around 40°F, for a period of several weeks. This step is necessary as it softens the hard outer shell of the seed, allowing water to penetrate and the seed to germinate. After stratification, the seeds are sown in well-prepared soil and covered with a thin layer of mulch. Plant at a shallow depth. Burying acorns too deep can inhibit germination and root growth for texas live oak. Initially, the soil should be kept moist, and as they begin to grow, they require regular watering. The seeds are collected from mature trees in the fall, either on the ground, or after shaking the branches. 1) https://www.botanikks.com/plants/quercus-fusiformis-small/548392/1 2) https://earthone.io/plant/quercus%20fusiformis?srsltid 3) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Quercus_fusiformis.html
Softwood Cutting Dip in a rooting hormone before planting in a well-aerated rooting medium such as perlite or vermiculite. Soil can be used, but it should be mixed with coarse sand to improve its drainage. The propagated cuttings should be kept under high humidity with frequent misting to avoid wilting or drying out. After several weeks, roots should begin to grow, and the cuttings can be transplanted to more stable growing conditions. Softwood cuttings from new growth are typically collected during the spring or early summer. The cuttings should be 6-8 inches long. https://www.botanikks.com/plants/quercus-fusiformis-small/548392/1

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason