Overcup Oak Tree for Sale: The Native Shade Oak for Wet Yards, Heavy Clay and Low Ground
The overcup oak tree (Quercus lyrata) is a long-lived native white oak that grows 40 to 60 feet tall with a broad, rounded crown and thrives in wet clay and low spots. Overcup oak is hardy in USDA zones 5–9 in full sun. TN Nursery ships bare-root overcup oak trees 1 to 4 feet tall, Buy 1 Get 1 Free.
Overcup oak belongs to the beech family (Fagaceae) and the white oak group, and is also called swamp post oak and water white oak. The common name comes from the acorn, which sits almost completely inside its scaly cup. In the wild, overcup oak grows on the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Delaware and Maryland to northwest Florida and east Texas, and up the Mississippi River valley into West Tennessee, western Kentucky, southern Illinois and southeastern Missouri.
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Botanical name: Quercus lyrata, beech family (Fagaceae), white oak group
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Also called: swamp post oak, water white oak
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Mature size: 40–60 feet tall and 40–50 feet wide in yards; 60–90 feet in bottomland forests
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Leaves: 6–10 inches long, deeply and irregularly lobed in a lyre shape, dark green above and pale below
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Acorns: ½–1 inch, nearly enclosed by the cup, ripening in a single season in September and October
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Lifespan: a true heirloom tree that can live around 400 years
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What ships: bare-root trees in 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft and 3–4 ft sizes, as Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Buy 3 Get 2 Free or 25-tree wholesale bundles
Will an Overcup Oak Tree Grow in a Wet Yard?
Yes. The overcup oak tree is one of the most flood-hardy oaks in North America, and in research plantings young trees came through continuous flooding for two full growing seasons.
Overcup oak also leafs out a few weeks later than most trees, which lets the tree ride out late-spring high water. That makes overcup oak a natural answer for a soggy lawn, a pond or detention basin edge, a drainage swale, a large rain garden and packed clay on a new home site.
How Does Overcup Oak Compare With Other Shade Oaks for Wet Ground?
Overcup oak is the best choice of the three for ground that stays wet the longest and for Southern yards up to zone 9. Swamp white oak reaches farther north, and pin oak brings a pyramid-shaped crown.
| Feature |
Overcup oak |
Swamp white oak |
Pin oak |
| Botanical name |
Quercus lyrata |
Quercus bicolor |
Quercus palustris |
| Zones |
5–9 |
3–8 |
4–8 |
| Leaf |
deep, irregular lyre-shaped lobes |
shallow, wavy lobes, two-toned |
deep, bristle-tipped lobes |
| Acorn |
nearly covered by its cup |
on a long stalk |
small, striped, shallow cup |
| Best site |
the wettest, longest-flooded ground |
moist to wet ground |
moist, acidic ground |
How Fast Does an Overcup Oak Tree Grow?
An overcup oak tree grows at a slow to moderate pace, about 1 to 2 feet per year when young in full sun and moist soil. That steady growth builds dense, strong wood that stands for generations.
Pair an overcup oak with a quick-growing red maple tree for fast color while the oak builds its crown.
What Does an Overcup Oak Tree Look Like?
An overcup oak tree has a rounded, open crown, gray-brown bark in rough, scaly plates and long leaves with deep, uneven lobes that look like the outline of a lyre, the harp that gives the species name lyrata.
In autumn the canopy turns yellow, tan and warm brown, with orange tones in some years. The round acorns are the showpiece, each nut almost hidden inside a rough, bumpy cup. Deer, wild turkeys and squirrels eat the acorns, and the broad branches give songbirds nesting cover.
Where Should You Plant an Overcup Oak, and What Grows Well With It?
Plant an overcup oak tree in full sun, at least 35 to 40 feet from buildings, in clay, silty or loamy soil with a pH of about 5.0 to 7.0. Overcup oak grows best in a low, open spot where the soil stays moist.
Other wet-ground natives make good neighbors. A bald cypress tree can stand in the wettest spot, while a river birch tree adds peeling bark along a creek. For a matching oak row, plant willow oak trees or pin oak trees. Planting a bottomland tract or duck hole by the hundred? Our overcup oak seedlings come in bulk packs. See more choices in our shade trees and wetland plants collections.
How Do You Plant a Bare-Root Overcup Oak Tree?
Plant a bare-root overcup oak tree while the tree is dormant, from late fall to early spring, with the root collar level with the ground. Water it in well and once a week through the first summer.
At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we dig each overcup oak while it is dormant and pack the roots in damp material, so the tree arrives leafless and ready to go in the ground.
- Soak the roots in a bucket of water for 2 to 4 hours.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the roots and just as deep, keeping the long taproot straight down.
- Set the tree so the root collar sits level with the soil, then backfill with the native soil.
- Water slowly until the hole is soaked, and add soil if it settles.
- Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch in a 3-foot ring, a few inches back from the trunk.
Planting & Growing Information
Botanical Name: Quercus lyrata
Plant Family: Fagaceae (beech family), white oak group
Ships: Bare root, 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft and 3–4 ft; ships between November 15 and 29
Planting Zone: 5–9
Height at Maturity: 40–60 feet in landscapes; 60–90 feet in the wild
Spread: 40–50 feet
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate, about 1–2 feet per year when young
Sun or Shade: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate to high; thrives in wet soil and handles long flooding
Soil: Clay, silt or loam, pH 5.0–7.0
Bloom Season: March–May (catkins)
Fall Color: Yellow, tan and brown, sometimes orange
Native Range: Southeastern coastal plains and the Mississippi River valley
Care: Water weekly the first summer, refresh the mulch ring each spring and shape young trees while dormant.
Plant Attributes: Flood-hardy native shade oak, thrives in heavy clay, acorns for deer and turkeys, long-lived heirloom tree
Overcup Oak Tree FAQ
How tall does an overcup oak tree get?
An overcup oak tree usually grows 40 to 60 feet tall and 40 to 50 feet wide in a yard, and 60 to 90 feet tall in bottomland forests.
Is overcup oak a white oak?
Yes. Overcup oak is a member of the white oak group, so its acorns ripen in a single season and its wood is sold as white oak.
Can an overcup oak grow in standing water?
Yes. An overcup oak handles seasonal standing water better than nearly any other oak and grows naturally along sloughs, swamp edges and backwater flats.
What zones do overcup oak trees grow in?
Overcup oak trees grow in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9.
Why is it called overcup oak?
Overcup oak is named for its acorn, which is almost completely covered by a rough, scaly cup.
Grown and Shipped by TN Nursery
TN Nursery has grown hardy native plants since 1959, more than 65 years of experience, and has supplied plants to major U.S. landmarks like the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. From our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we ship overcup oak trees to homeowners, pond owners and landscapers who need shade for wet clay. Read more on our garden blog: How to Choose the Best Tree for Wetland Areas, How Long Do Oak Trees Live? and Facts About Oak Trees for Wildlife and Habitat.
