post oak

Quercus stellata · Fagaceae · all Quercus records · Wikipedia

Is this one for your yard?

Enter your ZIP to see whether this is legal to plant in your state, and whether it survives your winter.

Yes, post oak is rated fire resistant.

Six extension and Firewise sources reach that conclusion using several regional systems. The USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area and state Firewise programs gave it Firewise 1, the best of four ratings. North Carolina sources classified it as low in flammability in both 2005 and 2025.

The institutions use different scales. Ohio State University Extension places post oak at L, the second-lowest band on its five-point flammability scale. Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Tech use three flammability grades and give post oak the lowest, L. For Willamette Valley growing conditions, Oregon State University Extension Service recommends post oak as fire resistant.

Post oak is a tree in the Fagaceae family and reaches about 40 feet at maturity. Ohio State and Virginia sources describe it as tolerant of dry, poor soil conditions. Its landscape requirements are full sun and moderate water, and it is native across several parts of the United States, including the Southeast, Northeast, North-Central, and South-Central regions. For a homeowner weighing flammability, post oak has broad support: every cited institution gives it a favorable finding.

Form: tree
Mature height: ~40 ft
Light: Full sun
Water need: moderate
Rated in: Georgetown, Texas; Global; NC; North Carolina +5

On this lot

1. Fire evidence and conditions

Fire evidence: Fire-resistant — location does not change the cited classification.
Fire-performance conditions
Fire ecology context
Placement evidence: 4 source placement records; source schemes remain separate.
Evidence regions: Georgetown, Texas; Global; NC; North Carolina; North Carolina / southeastern US; Ohio / Midwest; Oregon (Willamette Valley); Virginia / Mid-Atlantic; eastern US
Maintenance

Typed publication scope: 5 scopes across 5 cited fire sources

Fire-Resistant Landscaping in North Carolina (AG-874) · Official scoped edition
- NC; complete normalized coverage · 2025-03-26
  The complete three-table AG-874 plant list is explicitly for North Carolina and contains 202 low-, medium-, or high-flammability rows. FireApproved accounts for all source rows under its strict taxonomy and lineage rules; source scope does not establish local suitability at a particular North Carolina site.
Firewise Landscaping (OSU Extension Bulletin 921) · Official scoped edition
- OH; partial normalized coverage · 2006-03-01
  Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 921 is an Ohio publication that describes Ohio fire seasons and landscape conditions and labels nativity to Ohio. FireApproved publishes 352 exact source-owning plant records from its eight rated tables. This historical publication scope does not assert current extension endorsement or that a listed plant suits every Ohio site.
Fire-resistant Landscape Plants for the Willamette Valley (EM 9103) · Official scoped edition
- Willamette Valley (OR footprint); partial normalized coverage · 2015-02-01
  OSU Extension says EM 9103 highlights fire-resistant plants that thrive under Willamette Valley growing conditions. FireApproved publishes 172 exact owners only as valley context. The guide shares the PNW 590 lineage and is not a second independent vote or statewide site clearance.
Firewise Plant Guide · Official scoped edition
- Sun City Texas, Georgetown (TX footprint); partial normalized coverage · 2015-01-14
  The guide is authored for the Sun City Texas community in Georgetown. FireApproved publishes 142 exact owners only as community-level context. It is an archived HOA exhibit with unknown rating lineage, not a current statewide Texas source or an independent Tier 1 determination.
Virginia Firescapes — Firewise Landscaping for Woodland Homes (430-300) · Official scoped edition
- VA; partial normalized coverage · 2009-04-15
  Virginia Cooperative Extension's publication opens with Virginia wildfire conditions, identifies its Virginia Firewise Landscaping Task Force, and labels plants native to Virginia. FireApproved publishes 306 exact source owners. Publication scope does not establish parcel suitability or current endorsement of this archived 2009 list.

2. Why this plant is relevant here

State distribution: Documented in AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV.
Native range: Current cited native range in AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV.
Introduced / established
USDA hardiness: 2 applicable cited hardiness statements overlap but have different boundaries; compare each complete source row.

3. Legal, ecological, and broader status

Legal-list status
Seed-list status
Reported invasive here
Broader regional context
Federal context

How to read this page

The status above is computed from the cited rows below: independent recommendations can support a fire-resistant result, an avoid row can produce keep-away, and disagreement stays visible as conflict. Placement notes preserve each source’s own scheme rather than translating unlike rules into one scale. This is evidence about a plant, not permission to plant it in every part of the defensible space; Zone 0 remains noncombustible.

Native and introduced range evidence

These are exact U.S. botanical-area records from the cited range source. Native and introduced describe biogeographic relationship, not fire performance or planting approval. Doubtful and extinct rows stay visible but do not count as current presence.

Current native

28

exact source areas

Current introduced

0

exact source areas

Qualified

0

doubtful or extinct source rows

28 native source areas · World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16 v16, as of 2026-06-04

Alabama (AL)
Arkansas (AR)
Connecticut (CT)
Delaware (DE)
Florida (FL)
Georgia (GA)
Iowa (IA)
Illinois (IL)
Indiana (IN)
Kansas (KS)
Kentucky (KY)
Louisiana (LA)
Massachusetts (MA)
Maryland (MD)
Missouri (MO)
Mississippi (MS)
North Carolina (NC)
New Jersey (NJ)
New York (NY)
Ohio (OH)
Oklahoma (OK)
Pennsylvania (PA)
Rhode I. (RI)
South Carolina (SC)
Tennessee (TN)
Texas (TX)
Virginia (VA)
West Virginia (WV)

The lossless worldwide derivative is retained once in the research corpus; object pages repeat only exact U.S. areas needed by the local lens. The JSON twin carries the same page assertions.

Plant hardiness evidence

These values describe the plant source. Your ZIP zone comes from the separate 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Whole-zone values stay whole-zone, and a single unresolved value is not treated as a tolerance range. Different source boundaries stay separate: overlapping statements are compared independently, while only ranges with no shared zone are called a conflict.

Eastern United States Fire Performance Plant Selector · record quercus-stellata · 2016-wayback · as of 2026-08-26

Source prints 6 · single-value meaning unresolved · whole zone precision · source stated

Source taxon: Quercus stellata · exact match.

Source location: Cold Hardiness Zone field in the recovered selector record.

Not used for comparison: The recovered selector prints one Cold Hardiness Zone value but does not define it as a minimum threshold or a one-zone range.
Fire-resistant Landscape Plants for the Willamette Valley (EM 9103) · EM 9103, February 2015 · as of 2026-08-26

5–9 explicit range · whole zone precision · source stated

Source taxon: Quercus stellata · exact match.

Source location: Post Oak profile (PDF page 179).
USDA PLANTS Database — Plant Characteristics · record QUST · PLANTS Help Document 2022; characteristics cache retrieved 2026-08-23 · as of 2026-08-26

Minimum 3b · no upper limit documented · half zone precision · derived containing band

Exact source measurement: -33°F; mapped only to its containing half-zone.

Source taxon: Quercus stellata · source identifier match.

Source location: PlantCharacteristics record 70488, Temperature, Minimum (°F).

Where its sources say to plant it

Placement rules below use each source's own distances or named zones, tied to its rating. They are not interchangeable with the directory's current Zone 0 guidance.

Eastern United States Fire Performance Plant Selector: Landscape Zone 3 — 10–30 ft from the structure; thin vegetation, remove debris, and minimize plant massing [Fire Performance Plant Selector landscape zone] (with its recommendation)
Fire-resistant Landscape Plants for the Willamette Valley: Post Oak profile (PDF page 179) [osu-em-9103-profile] (with its recommendation)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: quercus-stellata [nc-toolbox-flammability-facet] (with its recommendation)
Firewise Plant Guide: Hardwood Trees [Sun City plant-table sections] (with its recommendation)

The evidence

Grouped by what each source concluded. Primary evidence rated the plant itself (a lab, field program, or original curation); corroboration compiled or republished another source's rating and resolves to its root lineage.

Listed without a rating (121)

Corroboration (121 rows from 1 source)

FLAMITS: FLAMmability plant traiTS database — Dryad / Global Ecology and Biogeography · Dryad version 9 · original source Corroboration Trait database lineage: meta-aggregator

121 cited rows from this source; its identity, lineage and tier are stated once.
- Primary study Kane2008: Kane, J. M., Varner, J. M., & Hiers, J. K. (2008). The burning characteristics of southeastern oaks: Discriminating fire facilitators from fire impeders. Forest Ecology and Management, 256, 2039-2045.
  
  Shared row context: fuel live; predrying no; device burning bench; site Kane2008-1; sampling november and december.
  - “flame height (cm): 68.4”
    
    FLAMITS record 5453; Combustibility measurement; plant part leaves.
  - “flaming duration (s): 52”
    
    FLAMITS record 5461; Sustainability measurement; plant part leaves.
  - “smouldering duration (s): 216.3”
    
    FLAMITS record 5469; Sustainability measurement; plant part litter.
  - “mass loss rate (g/s): 0.5”
    
    FLAMITS record 5477; Combustibility measurement; plant part litter.
  - “burnt biomass (%): 84.9”
    
    FLAMITS record 5485; Consumability measurement; plant part litter.
- Primary study Kreye2020: Kreye, J. K., Kane, J. M., Varner, J. M., & Hiers, J. K. (2020). Radiant heating rapidly increases litter flammability through impacts on fuel moisture. Fire Ecology, 16, 1-10.
  
  Shared row context: plant part litter; fuel all; predrying yes; device burning bench; site Kreye2020-2; sampling July.
  - Shared measurement context: Combustibility measurement.
    - “flame height (cm): 64”
      
      FLAMITS record 5779.
    - “flame height (cm): 53”
      
      FLAMITS record 5780.
    - “flame height (cm): 64”
      
      FLAMITS record 5781.
    - “flame height (cm): 43”
      
      FLAMITS record 5782.
    - “flame height (cm): 23”
      
      FLAMITS record 5783.
    - “flame height (cm): 23”
      
      FLAMITS record 5784.
    - “flame height (cm): 28”
      
      FLAMITS record 5785.
    - “flame height (cm): 73”
      
      FLAMITS record 5786.
    - “flame height (cm): 90”
      
      FLAMITS record 5787.
    - “flame height (cm): 91”
      
      FLAMITS record 5788.
    - “flame height (cm): 66”
      
      FLAMITS record 5789.
    - “flame height (cm): 54”
      
      FLAMITS record 5790.
    - “flame height (cm): 54”
      
      FLAMITS record 5791.
    - “flame height (cm): 42”
      
      FLAMITS record 5792.
    - “flame height (cm): 73”
      
      FLAMITS record 5891.
    - “flame height (cm): 53”
      
      FLAMITS record 5892.
    - “flame height (cm): 32”
      
      FLAMITS record 5893.
    - “flame height (cm): 32”
      
      FLAMITS record 5894.
    - “flame height (cm): 28”
      
      FLAMITS record 5895.
    - “flame height (cm): 31”
      
      FLAMITS record 5896.
    - “flame height (cm): 29”
      
      FLAMITS record 5897.
    - “flame height (cm): 125”
      
      FLAMITS record 5898.
    - “flame height (cm): 86”
      
      FLAMITS record 5899.
    - “flame height (cm): 82”
      
      FLAMITS record 5900.
    - “flame height (cm): 54”
      
      FLAMITS record 5901.
    - “flame height (cm): 63”
      
      FLAMITS record 5902.
    - “flame height (cm): 42”
      
      FLAMITS record 5903.
    - “flame height (cm): 42”
      
      FLAMITS record 5904.
  - Shared measurement context: Sustainability measurement.
    - “flaming duration (s): 76.2”
      
      FLAMITS record 5793.
    - “flaming duration (s): 45”
      
      FLAMITS record 5794.
    - “flaming duration (s): 70.2”
      
      FLAMITS record 5795.
    - “flaming duration (s): 73.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5796.
    - “flaming duration (s): 52.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5797.
    - “flaming duration (s): 60”
      
      FLAMITS record 5798.
    - “flaming duration (s): 112.2”
      
      FLAMITS record 5799.
    - “flaming duration (s): 58.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5800.
    - “flaming duration (s): 73.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5801.
    - “flaming duration (s): 72”
      
      FLAMITS record 5802.
    - “flaming duration (s): 55.2”
      
      FLAMITS record 5803.
    - “flaming duration (s): 70.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5804.
    - “flaming duration (s): 100.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5805.
    - “flaming duration (s): 142.2”
      
      FLAMITS record 5806.
    - “flaming duration (s): 0.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5905.
    - “flaming duration (s): 0.73”
      
      FLAMITS record 5906.
    - “flaming duration (s): 1.63”
      
      FLAMITS record 5907.
    - “flaming duration (s): 1.1”
      
      FLAMITS record 5908.
    - “flaming duration (s): 1.48”
      
      FLAMITS record 5909.
    - “flaming duration (s): 1.27”
      
      FLAMITS record 5910.
    - “flaming duration (s): 1.37”
      
      FLAMITS record 5911.
    - “flaming duration (s): 0.87”
      
      FLAMITS record 5912.
    - “flaming duration (s): 1.02”
      
      FLAMITS record 5913.
    - “flaming duration (s): 0.97”
      
      FLAMITS record 5914.
    - “flaming duration (s): 1.83”
      
      FLAMITS record 5915.
    - “flaming duration (s): 0.9”
      
      FLAMITS record 5916.
    - “flaming duration (s): 1.7”
      
      FLAMITS record 5917.
    - “flaming duration (s): 1.82”
      
      FLAMITS record 5918.
  - Shared measurement context: Ignitability measurement.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 304.2”
      
      FLAMITS record 5807.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 169.2”
      
      FLAMITS record 5808.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 585”
      
      FLAMITS record 5809.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 289.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5810.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 172.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5811.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 337.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5812.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 147”
      
      FLAMITS record 5813.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 259.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5814.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 304.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5815.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 430.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5816.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 232.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5817.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 535.8”
      
      FLAMITS record 5818.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 381”
      
      FLAMITS record 5819.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 226.2”
      
      FLAMITS record 5820.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 4.17”
      
      FLAMITS record 5919.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 5.37”
      
      FLAMITS record 5920.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 3.75”
      
      FLAMITS record 5921.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 3.33”
      
      FLAMITS record 5922.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 3.03”
      
      FLAMITS record 5923.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 2.2”
      
      FLAMITS record 5924.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 1.45”
      
      FLAMITS record 5925.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 5.18”
      
      FLAMITS record 5926.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 5.03”
      
      FLAMITS record 5927.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 5.7”
      
      FLAMITS record 5928.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 4.58”
      
      FLAMITS record 5929.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 3.83”
      
      FLAMITS record 5930.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 3.7”
      
      FLAMITS record 5931.
    - “time to smouldering (s): 3.28”
      
      FLAMITS record 5932.
  - Shared measurement context: Consumability measurement.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 82”
      
      FLAMITS record 5821.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 83”
      
      FLAMITS record 5822.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 75”
      
      FLAMITS record 5823.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 68”
      
      FLAMITS record 5824.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 38”
      
      FLAMITS record 5825.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 35”
      
      FLAMITS record 5826.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 32”
      
      FLAMITS record 5827.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 88”
      
      FLAMITS record 5828.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 87”
      
      FLAMITS record 5829.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 79”
      
      FLAMITS record 5830.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 75”
      
      FLAMITS record 5831.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 68”
      
      FLAMITS record 5832.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 65”
      
      FLAMITS record 5833.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 53”
      
      FLAMITS record 5834.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 84”
      
      FLAMITS record 5933.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 82”
      
      FLAMITS record 5934.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 55”
      
      FLAMITS record 5935.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 63”
      
      FLAMITS record 5936.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 39”
      
      FLAMITS record 5937.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 42”
      
      FLAMITS record 5938.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 22”
      
      FLAMITS record 5939.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 88”
      
      FLAMITS record 5940.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 90”
      
      FLAMITS record 5941.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 87”
      
      FLAMITS record 5942.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 74”
      
      FLAMITS record 5943.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 58”
      
      FLAMITS record 5944.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 59”
      
      FLAMITS record 5945.
    - “burnt biomass (%): 43”
      
      FLAMITS record 5946.
- Primary study Mola2014: Mola, J. M., Varner, J. M., Jules, E. S., & Spector, T. (2014). Altered Community Flammability in Florida's Apalachicola Ravines and Implications for the Persistence of the Endangered Conifer Torreya taxifolia. Plos One, 9, 8.
  
  Shared row context: plant part litter; fuel all; predrying no; device burning bench; site Mola2014-1; sampling may and june.
  - “flame height (cm): 4.24”
    
    FLAMITS record 9229; Combustibility measurement.
  - “flaming duration (s): 52.1”
    
    FLAMITS record 9246; Sustainability measurement.
  - “burnt biomass (%): 99.15”
    
    FLAMITS record 9263; Consumability measurement.
  - “time to smouldering (s): 216”
    
    FLAMITS record 9280; Ignitability measurement.

Guides that discuss this plant

Last verified 2026-08-23. JSON (CC BY 4.0)

Profiles: USDA PLANTS · GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Wikipedia · ITIS

Quercus stellata (Post oak). FireApproved. https://fireapproved.com/plants/quercus-stellata/. Last verified 2026-08-23.