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Foliage

Fagaceae

Hinckley oak is a very localized species growing at 4500 feet on the rocky limestone slopes around Solitario Peak in Presidio County and at two other sites near Shafter in West Texas. It is a dwarf, slow growing, sometimes thicket-forming 4 foot shrub with intricate, widely spreading branches which sport evergreen holly-like leaves with spiny, undulating margins. New leaves, which appear sporadically throughout the growing season, are dark pink or coral and fade to blue green. The two-tone combination is exquisite. That Hinckley oak is adapted to the soils and wetter climate of San Antonio and Dallas may be explained by the fact that leaves and acorns of this plant were found in a fossil pack-rat midden dating to about 15,000 years old, a time when that region of West Texas experienced more rain than today. Hinckley oak is classified as TOES II: a threatened species likely to become endangered within the forseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. So, it may not be propagated from plants growing in the wild.

Plant Habit or Use: small shrub

Exposure: sun

Flower Color: catkins

Blooming Period: spring

Fruit Characteristics: annual acorn, 1/4 inch long

Height: 4 feet

Width: 3 feet

Plant Character: evergreen

Heat Tolerance: very high

Water Requirements:

Soil Requirements: adaptable

USDA Hardiness Zone: 7

Additional Comments: