The Overcup Oak tree, Quercus lyrata, is a long-lived, very sturdy shade tree that will thrive in a wide variety of soil conditions. This oak tree is long overlooked by growers; the tree is just starting to be more popular and thus more readily available for home landscapes. An important tree in difficult urban landscaping situations with uniform branching forming a rounded shape with an open crown. The Overcup Oak has brilliant reddish or gray brown bark and displays leathery dark green leaves in summer. Fall color is a rich yellow-brown.
The Overcup oak is easy to transplant and tolerates most soil conditions and partial shade to full sun. Acorns are produced annually and are relatively small, usually between 1/2 an 1 inch. The oak tree derives it's name from the acorn cap that very nearly covers the acorn. The tree can produce very prolific acorn crops but generally does not begin to produce for 15 + years. Overcup Oak trees can create wildlife habitat on land where most oak species can not survive.