Quercus hemisphaerica aka Darlington Oak

Quercus hemisphaerica, also known as sand laurel oak, laurel oak, Darlington oak, or laurel-leaf oak, is a species of oak that is native to the southeastern and south-central regions of the United States, ranging from Texas to Delaware. It belongs to the red oak section Quercus sect. Lobatae and is often confused with and closely related to Quercus laurifolia (swamp laurel oak), but differs in several key characteristics. This medium-sized evergreen to semi-evergreen tree can grow up to 115 feet (35 m) tall with a 5-foot (1.5 m) trunk diameter, but is more commonly around 60 to 65 feet (18 m-20 m) tall. Its leaves are mostly elliptical or narrowly ovate, 1.2 to 4.7 inches (3 cm to 12 cm) long by 0.4 to 1.6 inches (1 cm to 4 cm) wide, and have a very short petiole ranging from 1/25 to 1/5 of an inch (1 mm to 5 mm) long. The leaf base is obtuse to rounded, and the leaves are entire, without teeth except one apical awn (rarely with a few teeth near apex). The acorns of Quercus hemisphaerica are hemispheric in shape, 0.35 to 0.6 inches (9 to 16.5 mm) by 0.35 to 0.6 inches (9 to 16.5 mm), and take 18 months to mature. They are 1/4 to 1/3 covered by a saucer to bowl-shaped cap. Sand laurel oak is a super rare houseplant that is not challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. It does best in long-lasting, direct light and should be less than 1 foot from a window. Sand laurel oak likes soil that is well-draining and shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size. This plant belongs to the Quercus genus and is native to the southeastern United States to Texas.