Plant · GBIF taxon 2880509
Texas live oak
Quercus fusiformisAlso known as Escarpment Live Oak, Plateau Live Oak, Plateau Oak
Texas live oaks form iconic, wide-spreading canopies across dry limestone hills and oak savannas. Their dark green, leathery leaves typically stay on the branches through winter, dropping briefly in early spring just before new growth emerges. The acorns feature a distinct spindle-like, tapered shape that provides vital autumn nourishment for white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and scrub-jays.
Semi-EvergreenDrought-TolerantNative Tree
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
- White-Tailed Deer
- Wild Turkey
- Acorn Weevil
ThreatsOak wilt fungus, land clearing, overgrazing of seedlings
HabitatsLimestone hills, rocky escarpments, oak savannas, grasslands
Life span100–500+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderFagales
- FamilyFagaceae
- GenusQuercus
- SpeciesQuercus fusiformis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Acorns and foliage contain tannins that are toxic to dogs, horses, and livestock if ingested.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains gallotannins that break down into toxic compounds, causing severe kidney damage and gastrointestinal distress in dogs, horses, and cattle.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Identified by dark gnarled bark, leathery oval leaves with smooth or spiny margins, and spindle-shaped pointed acorns.
- What to do
- Keep dogs and livestock away from fallen acorns and leaf litter, and clear heavy acorn accumulations from pastures.
Responsible observation
- Avoid Spring Pruning: Do not trim branches between February and June to prevent spreading destructive oak wilt.
- Provide Canopy Space: Give young trees wide planting clearances since canopies often grow broader than high.
- Mulch Root Zones: Apply organic mulch around the dripline to conserve soil moisture and protect shallow roots.
Frequent Companion Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Homer Edward Price / CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0
Close Relative Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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