IDENTIFYING TREES BY LEAF, BARK, FLOWERS, FRUITS AND SEEDS
Pin Oak Tree
Botanical name: Quercus palustris Family: Fagaceae (beech) Group: red oak
A.K.A. swamp oak, spanish swamp oak, water oak
Native
Hardwood
Deciduous
Monoecious
Height 55-75′ sometimes reaching over 110′
Capable of producing a trunk diameter in excess of 5′
Light to medium furrowed grey bark furrows deepen with age
Rapid growth rate
Broad crown spreading 20-50′ pyramidal shape when young tends to become more oval (upright) with age
Branches are often found on the lower parts of the trunk nearer the ground and tend to hang downward
Alternate leaf pattern
Leaf is dark green about 5-6″ long and have 3-7 lobes with bristle teeth on tips
Sinuses are deeply U shaped and are the same size as the leaf itself.
Flowers in the spring when leaves appear
Fruit is a small .25-.5″ acorn with a shallow, thin cap that matures in two seasons
Fibrous root system regenerates quickly so it transplants well and is one of the most commonly planted trees, but needs plenty of room to grow.
Timber is used for construction and firewod
Needs acidic pH 5-6.5 soils. Soils that are too alkaline (above a pH of 7) tends to cause iron chlorosis, a reduction or loss of green color
Wet soil is favorable – bottomlands and very moist upland areas
While pin oak does not fair well with growing season flooding it is
Full to partial sun that does not do well in shaded areas
Pest that may affect pin oaks are scarlet oak sawfly (premature dropping of leaves or skeletonized leaves), gypsy moth caterpillars, red oak borer, flat head bores (two-lined chectnut borers), gouty oak gall and horned oak gall (caused by wasp laying their eggs in the twigs) and oak wilt (a fungus that is passed on by beetles that feed on sap and root grafts). Same as pest, oak wilt can be moved in firewood.
