Graceful Oak

COMMON NAMES: EVERGREEN OAK, SLENDER OAK, CHISOS OAK

Quercus graciliformis  (KWER-cus grace-ah-li-FORM-iss)

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

Semi-evergreen tree

HEIGHT:   20 to 40 feet
SPREAD:   20 to 25 feet
FINAL SPACING: 15 to 30 feet

NATURAL HABITAT AND PREFERRED SITE:   Grows in the Chisos Mountains in Brewster County primarily.

IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION:  Attractive, shiny-leafed plant that resembles the Chisos oak. Graceful oak or evergreen oak is a small to medium tree that will grow in a wide range of soils.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT: Typical oak with separate male and female flowers or catkins and the fruits are acorns.

BARK:     Smooth on young trees and developing in heavier texture with maturity.

FOLIAGE:  Beautiful shiny leaves that look like more narrow and deeply cut chinkapin oak leaves.

CULTURE:  Graceful oak typically is seen growing above 5,000 feet, but does seem to adapt to regular garden settings in most of Texas although it needs excellent drainage because it is sensitive to too much soil moisture. It is a tree that should be used more. It needs a minimum amount of fertilizer

PROBLEMS: Biggest problem with the graceful oak is finding it in the nursery trade but hopefully that will change in the near future.

PROPAGATION:  Like all oaks it is grown from seed or acorns collected immediately after they release from the tree.

INSIGHT:  These trees are true evergreens but not as evergreen as the live oaks. They should be used much more in the landscape as soon as they are available in the nursery trade.

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