Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Deciduous broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Fagaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Street Tree, Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Species type, no specific named cultivar
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8, demonstrating good cold hardiness and adaptability to urban environments.
About This Tree
A medium to large deciduous tree featuring a distinctive pyramidal form when young, with upper branches ascending, middle branches horizontal, and lower branches drooping downward. It has a dense crown, moderate to fast growth rate, and deeply lobed leaves with bristle tips.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate leaves, 3 to 6 inches long with 5 to 7 deep lobes, each having bristle tips and deep, u-shaped sinuses. Dark green and lustrous on top, paler underneath. Turns rich bronze, red, or russet in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Grayish-brown, relatively smooth on young trees, gradually becoming narrowly ridged and furrowed with age, characterized by numerous small dead pin-like branchlets along the limbs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to eastern and central North America, commonly found in moist bottomlands and poorly drained upland soils.
Growing Season
Leafs out in spring, produces inconspicuous flowers in April or May, develops acorns that ripen in the fall of their second year, and enters winter dormancy after dropping its leaves (though it often exhibits marcescens, holding onto dead brown leaves through the winter).
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for optimal growth. Prefers moist, rich, poorly drained soils and is quite tolerant of wet conditions and temporary flooding, though it requires acidic soil to prevent chlorosis.
Mature Size
Reaches a mature height of 60 to 70 feet with a spread of 40 to 60 feet. Moderate to fast growing with a lifespan of up to 120 years or more.
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for its distinctive branching habit and brilliant fall color. Very adaptable to urban pollution and clay soils, but susceptible to iron chlorosis in high pH alkaline soils.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides crucial food and habitat for a wide range of wildlife. Acorns are a vital food source for blue jays, woodpeckers, wild turkeys, squirrels, and white-tailed deer. The dense lower branches offer excellent nesting cover for birds.