Overcup Oak—Quercus lyrata

Large | Deciduous | Height: 35-60 feet | Spread: 35-60 feet

Flowers on this tree range in color from brown to copper, typically blooming March through April, with leaves displaying variable yellow, brown, and red when they change seasons. The pollen-bearing flowers hang in drooping clusters. Female flowers give way to acorns, although the Overcup typically doesn’t bear acorns until the tree is 25-30 years old. The wood can be used as firewood. 

This tree has mild resistance against deer browsing. Birds and small mammals feed on its acorns. Overcup oaks also host numerous species of moths and butterflies, including the imperial moth.

More information on the characteristics and cultivation of this species can be found at https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-lyrata/