Sandpaper Oak

COMMON NAMES: SANDPAPER OAK, SCRUB OAK, SHIN OAK, SCRUB OAK, ENCINO OAK

Quercus pungens var. pungens  ( KWER-kus PUN-gens)

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

Small deciduous tree. This is considered one of the shin oaks.

HEIGHT:   15 to 20 feet
SPREAD:   10 to 15 feet
FINAL SPACING: 10 to 15 feet

NATURAL HABITAT AND PREFERRED SITE:   One of the most wide spread species of the Trans Pecos area. Sandpaper oak grows in dry creeks and on limestone hillsides.

IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION:  Beautiful small tree that is similar in appearance to the vasey oak. It has gray-green sandpapery leaves that are slightly larger than that of vasey oak.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT: Male and female catkins on the same tree. Fruit mature as acorns in the fall.

BARK:     Light to medium gray when young, darkening and becoming a more heavy texture with age.

FOLIAGE:  Leaves are small rolled on the edge and harsh to the touch. The texture is sandpapery.

CULTURE:  Drought tolerant tree that need little fertilizer. It’s an easy to grow tree but hard to find at this time.

PROBLEMS: This interesting little tree is hard to find in the nursery industry.

PROPAGATION:  Grown from acorns plants soon after collection in the fall.

INSIGHT:  The name sandpaper oak comes from its sandpaper like touch. Sandpaper oak closely resembles vasey oak.

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