Monterrey Oak

Quercus polymorpha

Also called Mexican White Oak

Hills guide picknative · Central Texassold locally

Monterrey Oak is a large tree native to Central Texas that grows 45–60 ft tall and 30–40 ft wide. It wants full sun and very low water, and handles clay soil. Blooms green in Mar–May. Good for birds and small mammals.

Will it grow in your yard?

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From our guide

Village of the Hills

Semi-evergreen oak with thick leathery leaves, holding foliage through most winters and flushing bronze-pink in spring.

Why it works here

Fast growth for an oak, excellent alkaline tolerance, and so far notably resistant to oak wilt.

Watch out

Young trees can defoliate in a hard freeze. Limited long-term data in Central Texas — a good tree, not yet a proven fifty-year tree.

The facts

7 sources

Type: Large tree
Sun: Full sun (6+ hrs)
Water: Very low
Height: 45–60 ft
Spread: 30–40 ft
Bloom: Mar–May · green
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Soil: Takes clay · recorded on clay, loam, poor drainage, rocky, sand
Deer: Moderate — deer may browse it, especially new growth. Young growth browsed; established trees unaffected.
Wildlife: Supports birds, deer and small mammals

Size, sun, water and foliage from the Village of the Hills guide; the rest resolved across sources.

Where it grows

No Level IV record in the launch area yet. Recorded in these Texas ecoregions:

Southern Texas Plain

58 occurrence records in Central Texas (GBIF).

Can you buy it?

Sold at local nurseries. Confirmed in stock at a Central Texas grower in these sizes:

5, 15, 30, 45, 65, 95 gallon

From the growers we read so far — a short list, not the whole trade. Call ahead.