Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
Identifying Features
Plant Family: Fagaceae
Native Range: Eastern and Central North America
Leaf: deciduous, alternate, simple, leaf shape is variable, generally has 5 bristle-tipped lobes with deep sinuses extending nearly to mid-rib
Twig and Bud: twig slender and reddish-brown
Flower, Fruit and Seed: fruit is a round acorn with a shallow cap
Bark: thin with long, flat-topped gray-brown ridges and shallow furrows
Shape and Mature Height: grows 50-70 feet, upper branches ascend, middle branches are horizontal, lower branches descend
Garden Value and Considerations
Pin oaks are commonly used as ornamental trees, ideally in full sun. Shading from other trees often causes the lower branches of this tree to die-off, resulting in persistent branch stubs along the trunk. In the wild they are found in areas with wet, acidic soils and are subject to leaf yellowing when grown in alkaline soil.
Notes
Oak trees support a wide array of invertebrates which in turn become a source of food to many animals. Some oak-supported invertebrates provide pollination services for other plants.
Acorns are an essential food source for many wildlife species. The pin oak’s small acorns are especially beneficial for acorn-consuming birds such as wild turkey, wood duck, mallard, blue jay, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch and woodpeckers.
