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.