Oak, Monterrey

Monterrey Oak also called the Mexican Oak or the Mexican White Oak is a West Texas native widely used now for Urban landscapes since for one it is a rapid grower, it’s drought resistant, grows in variety of soils and conditions and has few known insect or disease pests. It’s Oak Wilt resistant even though it’s in the white oak family and not affected by Live Oak Decline. The Monterrey can grow to crown spread of 60 ft with heights of 80 ft but must have sufficient water. It will quickly attain a pyramidal shape in its youth and then become more rounded with age.

In spring, new LEAVES emerge with red or pink tones before turning fully green or bluish green, and becoming thick and waxy. They lack the lobes most often associated with oaks, and have margins that are wavy and have very small bristles. The tree has big leathery leaves that appear in a whirl pattern and give the appearance of year-round green flowers. It is evergreen in most winters, and the new growth has a bronze color. The leaves are simple, alternate, pinnately veined. It is practically evergreen from Austin southward but to the north will lose its leaves briefly in late winter to bud out again in February to March.

FLOWERS are Unisexual (A flower that possesses either stamens or carpels but not both.) , Monoecious, green in color and bloom in March-May. In mid to late spring, the green male flowers, called catkins, are borne on a pendent string from the reddish twigs and lack petals. After pollen is shed, the small female flowers open at the base of the young leaves at branch tips.

The ACORNS are slightly oval to robustly round and can range in color from deep purple to brown. Small mammals and large birds use the acorns for food. The BARK is brown to deep gray in color.