Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Fagaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Ornamental, Urban Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Common Pin Oak (Species). Notable for distinctive pendulous lower branches.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-8. Well-suited to many European climate zones including the temperate regions of Portugal.
About This Tree
A medium-sized deciduous tree reaching a strongly pyramidal shape when young, becoming more oval-oblong with age. Known for its unique branching: upper branches point up, middle branches are horizontal, and lower branches droop downward.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate arrangement. Deeply lobed with 5-7 lobes separated by wide, U-shaped sinuses. Glossy dark green in summer, turning russet-brown or red in fall. Leaf tips have small, hair-like bristles (typical of red oak group).
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and gray-brown when young, developing thin, tight ridges and shallow furrows with age. It does not become as deeply fissured as other oak species.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Central and Eastern North America; specifically adapted to floodplains and widely used in temperate European landscapes like Portugal.
Growing Season
Bud break and flowering (catkins) occur in mid-to-late spring. Foliage remains green through summer, turning bronze or bright red in late autumn before falling. Dormant in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (6+ hours daily). Prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soils. Fairly tolerant of wet soil and temporary flooding; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
Height of 18-22 meters (60-70 feet) with a spread of 8-12 meters (25-40 feet). Moderate to fast growth rate for an oak; can live 120-150 years.
Special Characteristics
Excellent fall color. Dense branching provides heavy shade. High tolerance for urban pollution and compacted soils. Prone to iron chlorosis in high pH (alkaline) soils.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides critical habitat and food for squirrels, deer, and blue jays via small, rounded acorns (capped with a thin, saucer-like cup). Supports numerous lepidoptera larvae (caterpillars) and provides nesting sites for songbirds.
Notes
Portugal