Texas Arboretum: Oak Wilt

All oaks (Quercus spp.) are susceptible to oak wilt to some degree, but some species are affected more than others. Red oaks, particularly Spanish oak (Q. buckleyi), Texas red oak (Q. texana), Shumard oak (Q. shumardii), and blackjack oak (Q. marilandica), are extremely susceptible and may play a unique role in the establishment of new oak wilt infections. White oaks, including post oak (Q. stellata), bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), Mexican white oak (Q. polymorpha), white shin oak (Q. sinuata var. breviloba), Durand oak (Q. sinuata), Lacey oak (Q. laceyi), and chinkapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii), are resistant to the fungus and rarely die from oak wilt. Live oaks (Q. virginiana and Q. fusiformis) are intermediate in susceptibility to oak wilt, but are most seriously affected due to their tendency to grow from root sprouts and form vast interconnected root systems that allow movement (or spread) of the fungus between adjacent trees.


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
Quercus buckleyi Texas red oak, Buckley oak, Spanish oak, Spotted Oak, Rock Oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Quercus fusiformis Escarpment live oak, Plateau live oak, Texas live oak, Scrub live oak, Hill country live oak, Plateau oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Quercus laceyi Lacey oak, Texas blue oak, Canyon oak, Smoky oak, Rock oak Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak, Burr oak, Savannah oak, Overcup oak, Prairie oak, Mossy-cup oak, Mossy-overcup oak, Blue oak Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Quercus marilandica Blackjack oak, Barren oak, Black oak, Jack oak Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Quercus muehlenbergii Chinkapin oak, Chinquapin oak, Chestnut oak, Yellow chestnut oak, Yellow oak, Rock chestnut oak, Rock oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Quercus polymorpha Mexican White Oak, Monterrey Oak, Netleaf white oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Quercus shumardii Shumard oak, Shumard's oak, Shumard red oak, Southern red oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Quercus sinuata Bastard oak, Durand oak Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Quercus sinuata var. breviloba White shin oak, Bigelow oak, Scaly-bark oak, Limestone Durand oak, Shortlobe oak, Bastard oak Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Quercus stellata Post oak Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Quercus texana Nuttall Oak, Texas red oak, Texas oak, Spanish oak, Rock oak Perennial Tree Part-shade
Quercus virginiana Coastal live oak, Southern live oak, Live oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist