Chinkapin Oak
Introduction
The deep green color of the chinkapin oak make it a regal and lush species of tree to grace parks and fields. Its broad and low base also provides excellent shade. .
Common Name
Chinkapin oak
Latin Name
Quercus muehlenbergii
Leaf
Alternate, simple, obovate or oblong; large coarse gland tipped teeth on margin; 4 to 7 inches long; dark, shiny green above, much paler below
Flower
Male flowers are yellow-green long catkins, females are green to reddish, very small in leaf axils.
Fruit/nut
Acorn: broadest below the middle; thin bowl-shaped cap covers about a third of acorn and forms a tattered fringe on the margin of cap; dark brown when mature
Twig/branches
Slender to moderate, orange-brown; buds cluster at branch tips
Bark
Thin, light gray, rough and flaky
Form
Rounded shallow crown with broad base
Size
Commonly reaches around 60 feet tall and 50 to 60 feet wide
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from Vermont west to Wisconsin and south to South Carolina, western Florida, and New Mexico
Type
Medium-sized deciduous tree
Seasonal Colors
Deep green color in summer, turning to a yellow-bronze tint in the fall
Soil
Weakly acid to alkaline, well-drained upland soils derived from limestone
Light
Full sun is best, as the species is intolerant of shade
Similar Species
Chestnut oak, swamp white oak, swamp chestnut oak, American chestnut
Pests and Diseases
Oak wilt, a vascular disease, attacks chinkapin oak and usually kills the tree within two to four years. The most serious defoliating insects that attack chinkapin oak are the gypsy moth, the orange-striped oakworm and the variable oakleaf caterpillar.
Rebate Eligibility
$100
Of Note
The chinkapin oak is especially known for its sweet and palatable acorns, which are the sweetest among all the oaks and are edible and nutritious for both humans and wildlife.
Photo Credits
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