Oak, Chinkapin
Quercus muehlenbergii
Fagaceae - Beech and Oak
Description
Leaves: Alternate; simple; 4" to 7" long; deciduous; coarsely serrate margin with sharp teeth; thick; petiole 1" to 1-1/4" long.
Twigs/buds: Twigs green initially, but turn grayish-brown to orange-brown; hairless; thin. Buds light reddish-brown or orangish-brown, almost hairless; 1/8" long, cone-shaped; terminal buds egg-shaped and pointed.
Flowers/fruit: Monoecious. Fruit an acorn; short-stalked; 1/2" to 3/4" long, chestnut-brown to dark brown; shallow cap with hairy scales encloses 1/2 of the acorn; matures in one season.
Bark: Light gray to whitish, thin; furrowed roughly or scaly.
Wood: Moderately important; similar to Q. alba; a member of the white oak group which has the following characteristics: heartwood gray-brown, pores usually plugged with tyloses or bubbles, resistant to decay; sapwood almost white; heavier than red oak; used for lumber, veneer, railroad ties, mine timbers, cooperage (barrels and tubs), fence posts, fuel, planking and parts of boats and ships, furniture, flooring, pallets, millwork, and agricultural implements.
General: Native to most of the eastern half of the U.S. east of the Great Plains. Typically found on dry, wooded sites. Intermediate shade tolerance.
Landscape Use: This is another good, introduced oak worth planting more in Utah. It makes an attractive specimen or can be planted in groups of a few to many in yards, parks, or along streets. Fairly nice yellow to orange-brown fall color. It is seldom planted here and will not be easy to find, but is worth the effort. Zones 4-7.
Comments & Limitations: Acornscan be a nuisance.
Characteristics
General
Family | Fagaceae - Beech and Oak |
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Cultivar Availability | No |
Hardiness Zone | 4-7 |
Type | Broadleaf |
Utah Native | No |
Growth
Growth Rate | Medium |
---|---|
Mature Height | High |
Longevity | High |
Is Good Under Power Lines | No |
Crown Shapes | Oval |
Ornamental
Bark | No |
---|---|
Fall Color | Yes |
Flowers | No |
Foliage | Yes |
Fruit | No |
Tolerance
Shade | Medium |
---|---|
Salt | Medium |
Drought | High |
Poor Drainage | Medium |
Alkalinity | High |
Transplanting | Medium |