Quick answer: Bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia) is native to 13 states. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. No live listing of the true species was found as of 15 Sep 2026.
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the directory as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Dry |
| Soil | Acidic, sandy or gravelly |
| Bloom | Mar-Jun |
| Height | 18 ft (to 41 ft) |
| Wildlife value | Acorns food for turkeys/grouse, larval host for Sleepy Duskywing and Eastern buckmoth |
Buying it
No live listing of the true wild species was found as of 15 Sep 2026 — that means our last search didn't surface one, not that the plant is unavailable.
No live seed or plant listing found as of 15 Sep 2026. That means our last search didn't surface one — not that the plant is unavailable. Try a regional native-plant nursery.
Quick answers about Bear oak
Where is Bear oak native?
Bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia) is native to 13 states across the Northeast and South. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Bear oak bloom?
Bear oak blooms Mar-Jun. Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Bear oak need?
Light: Sun. Water: Dry. Soil: Acidic, sandy or gravelly. Mature height: 18 ft (to 41 ft).
Is Bear oak good for pollinators and wildlife?
Yes. Wildlife value: Acorns food for turkeys/grouse, larval host for Sleepy Duskywing and Eastern buckmoth.
Is Bear oak deer-resistant or drought-tolerant?
Bear oak is drought-tolerant.
Where can I buy Bear oak?
We haven't found an online listing of the true wild species as of 15 Sep 2026. A regional native-plant nursery or native seed company is your best source; ask for Quercus ilicifolia by its scientific name.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Bear oak.
- Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia
- Sassafras Sassafras albidum
- Gray birch Betula populifolia
- American holly Ilex opaca
- Nannyberry Viburnum lentago
- Flowering dogwood Cornus florida
Also listed under
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