Quercus x comptoniae is a naturally-occurring oak hybrid from the southeastern United States, found in areas where the very deciduous overcup oak (Quercus lyrata) overlaps in range with the more-or-less evergreen Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana). Overcup oak is an upright-growing oak, with large, almost cartoonish leaves, while Southern live oak tends to grow more wide than tall, with a very simple, but durable, paddle-shaped leaf. In other words, the parents are two very different trees, so, naturally, the hybrid offspring of these two can take on an almost bewildering array of forms, as the traits of the parents mix freely in the offspring.

One of the most useful form of Q. x comptoniae thus far grown in California combines the urban-positive upright growth habit of the overcup oak parent, along with surprisingly good fall color. By comparison with the overcup oak parent, the best part of the Comptons oak is that they retain their leaves much later in the fall, and even into the winter, while turning vivid colors. Where overcup oak will shed its leaves in October, the good upright forms of Comptons oak continue to hold leaves into November and even December, while turning red, yellow, orange and purple.

As with any true hybrid, especially with such distinctly different parents, many other forms of Comptons oak exist, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses as urban trees. Some offspring more closely resemble the Southern live oak parent, and these vary in timing of leaf retention from late deciduous, to about one third evergreen.

From the arborists perspective, Comptons oak displays consistently strong structure, and maintains consistent pruned clearances. Comptons oak is recommended for use and trial in coastal California, where good fall color trees, especially with an upright growth habit and drought tolerance, are surprisingly hard to come by.