Quercus minima aka Dwarf Live Oak

Quercus minima, or dwarf live oak, belongs to the oak family, Fagaceae. This small shrub comes from the southeastern United States. It grows in pine woods and sandy hills near the coast. Florida holds its largest populations. Other names include runner oak and minimal oak. Unlike many oaks, it stays low and forms colonies.

Plants reach about 2–6 feet (0.6–1.83 metres) tall and spread wider. Virginia Tech describes smaller plants reaching 3 feet (0.9 metres). Each shrub has several stems and spreads through underground rhizomes. These runners can form dense patches in its native habitat. Seeds also help it spread. The bark is smooth, with brown to pale gray tones. Young twigs are slender, smooth, and greenish brown. By their second year, twigs turn light gray. Small, rounded buds have brown to gray-brown scales.

The simple green leaves grow in an alternate pattern. Their shape varies, as do their edges. Some have smooth margins; others have teeth or lobes. The lobes often end in sharp tips. Leaf undersides are pale green with a waxy bloom. Leaves last through winter, then fall around spring leaf renewal. This makes the shrub semi-evergreen rather than fully evergreen. Spring brings yellow-green male catkins. Pale brown acorns ripen in fall. Each nut measures about two-thirds of an inch long. A cup with gray scales covers half the nut. Young plants may bear seeds within three years.

Grow dwarf live oak in full sun and fertile sandy loam. It needs soil that drains well and tolerates drought. It does not tolerate salt, despite its coastal range. NC State lists USDA hardiness zones 7a through 10b. The shrub also shows resistance to fire and low flammability. Gardeners seldom plant it in home landscapes. Its spreading form suits groundcover use in natural areas. Restoration projects also use it. Wildlife finds both food and shelter among its stems. Birds and small mammals eat the acorns.

NC State links this species to general oak pest guides. The supplied evidence names no specific pest or disease. It rates the plant's poison risk as low. Eating raw leaves or fruit can cause stomach pain and constipation. Later signs can include bloody diarrhea, thirst, and increased urination. The source also flags a risk to horses. These warnings do not establish a safe edible use.