Deer Orchard™ Starter Pack | Zone 4

Un icono del sureste de EE. UU. y una planta paisajística muy popular, el versátil roble vivo es insuperable para las parcelas de fauna silvestre por muchas razones. Crece en cualquier suelo, siempre que no permanezca demasiado húmedo, y tolera bastante sequía una vez establecido, así como temperaturas extremas de calor y frío dentro de su área de crecimiento. En su exposición preferida a pleno sol, desarrolla una copa densa y agradable que proyecta una sombra profunda incluso a una edad relativamente joven, y crea refugio durante los meses de invierno. Aunque se considera un roble perenne, pierde algunas de sus hojas a principios de la primavera a medida que emerge el nuevo follaje, lo que le da un aspecto ralo temporal durante algunas semanas, pero nunca llega a ser completamente caducifolio. La cosecha de bellotas suele ser constante y razonable anualmente, a menudo cubriendo el suelo debajo.

The sumac fruit is persistent on the shrub into winter. While the fruit may not be a favorite wildlife food, it is an important winter survival food. Birds, insects, and deer all use this shrub. It is the host for the hairstreak butterfly caterpillar. Deer will forage on the stems and fruit and birds will eat the berries in winter.

Bur oak produce a large acorn in a heavy cap covered in “burs” that resembles a small bird’s nest. Dropping in October to November, their hefty size prevents smaller animals from eating them, and therefore they may persist on the ground into early winter and be available for consumption by deer after other more preferred, earlier ripening food is no longer available. Slowly forming a large tree, it is adaptable to both acidic and alkaline soil conditions provided the site is well-drained. This species is fairly drought tolerant after establishment.

As can be expected from a tree naturally occurring in central and west Texas and into Mexico, this small tree is exceptionally tolerant of extreme heat, low humidity, drought and poor soil conditions. In southeast Texas it also occurs in more humid sandy ridges overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Appearing nothing like the American Persimmon, this species produces silver dollar sized fruits that are jet black inside and out yet are surprisingly delicious even for humans. It starts out as a dense, multi-stemmed shrub with small olive-green leaves, and with size the smooth, exfoliating bark begins to take on attractive silver, grey and white tones. When planted outside of its native range, it will prosper best in hot, exposed, well-drained sites…perfect for sites that would be difficult for most other trees. Being dioecious, male and female individuals are required for fruit production so several of our unsexed plants sited near each other will increase the odds that both sexes are present.

An old reliable member of the red oak group that produces reliable mast, it also grows and matures rather fast compared with most other oaks. Tolerant of a variety of soil conditions as long as it doesn’t stay wet too long, it is a great choice for deer and turkey plots. Full sun to part-day sun suit it well, though brightest conditions will result in heavier acorn crops.