{"product_id":"quercus-ilicifolia-bear-oak","title":"Quercus ilicifolia (Bear Oak)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn ecological cornerstone of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, bear oak is the primary or sole larval host for an estimated 29 percent of rare or endangered Lepidoptera in its southern range, including the Eastern Buckmoth and Sleepy Duskywing - a genuinely disproportionate ecological footprint for such a small, scrubby tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuercus ilicifolia, or bear oak, is a small, shrubby, deciduous oak native to the eastern United States, forming gnarled thickets typically under 20 feet tall in dry, sandy, nutrient-poor soils. It is common in New Jersey's Pine Barrens and the pine barrens of Long Island, with holly-like, deeply lobed leaves and small acorns that give the species its common name for their appeal to bears.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApplication\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePine Barrens and dry, sandy, acidic soil restoration - common regional species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFire-adapted plantings - early colonizer after wildfire and disturbance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarval host habitat for the Eastern Buckmoth, Sleepy Duskywing, and numerous rare Lepidoptera\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThicket and wildlife cover plantings on poor, nutrient-depleted soils\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Conditions \/ Specification Data\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full Sun - intolerant of shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\/Moisture Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry, sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soils; intolerant of salt\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shrub\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8-15 ft.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red-Purple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWetland Indicator Status:\u003c\/strong\u003e NI (No Indicator) - see flags\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Northeast\/Mid-Atlantic (full list) - common in NJ Pine Barrens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHydrology:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry-Mesic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoot Depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep (24-36 in.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e High\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Some\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlood Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low - A dry, sandy-soil Pine Barrens scrub oak; not tolerant of standing water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShade Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intolerant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Multi-stemmed\/Thicket-forming - scrubby Pine Barrens form\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5-9\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Larval host, supports butterflies, supports moths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Guidance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eA fire-adapted, early-successional species that regenerates after burning and heavy disturbance; not intended as a long-lived specimen tree but as a component of barrens and scrub restoration.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Pinelands Nursery","offers":[{"title":"32 Cell Tubeling","offer_id":48941162659911,"sku":"QUE-ILI 32TBL","price":112.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"#2 Container","offer_id":48941162692679,"sku":"QUE-ILI #2","price":21.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0675\/1649\/7991\/files\/Quercusilicifolia1.jpg?v=1791556195","url":"https:\/\/www.pinelandsnursery.com\/products\/quercus-ilicifolia-bear-oak","provider":"Pinelands Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}