Buckley's Oak: late June 2023 first picture, mid-July 2022 second picture.
Buckley's Oak (early July 2021). Much darker green leaves than 2020. Probably due to plentiful fertilizer.
Buckley's Oak leaf detail from early June 2020. The leaves are similar in form to the Shumard Oak, but are smaller and with less bristles.
I planted this 15 gallon tree, which I purchased from Buchanan's Native Plants, in January 2018. It is supposed to be very similar to Nuttall Oak and Shumard Oak but has smaller leaves with hairless under-sides, and grows to be a smaller tree, usually under 35 feet tall. It is supposed to prefer well-drained soil which my yard certainly does not have. However I planted it in a relatively high spot in the yard and made sure the base of the trunk is at least an inch above ground level.
On March 18th 2018, this tree leafed out profusely, starting pink and soon turning green.
On April 22nd the Buckley's Oak had fully leafed out with healthy rigid dark green leaves. The leaves were shaped like those of the Shumard Oak, but smaller. Looked very healthy.
Mid March 2019 this tree leafed out again nicely, with plenty of catkins.
In August 2019, the tree looked much less healthy than it did in 2018. The leaves were pale green with brown edges, so much worse than the dark green healthy leaves of August 2018. August 2019 was a brutal hot, dry month and the clay turned to concrete - several other trees suffered similarly. The summer of 2020 was even worse.