Pin oak, Swamp Spanish oak
Fagaceae (Beech Family)
with spreading to horizontal branches, very slender pinlike twigs, and a broadly conical crown. Pin oak is a stongly pyramidal tree
with a distinct central leader, growing 60-70 ft. or taller. Instead of the gnarled, massive qualities of most oaks, pin oak has a more graceful, slender appearance. Old trees become high-crowned after shedding lower limbs. Dark-green foliage becomes dark-red in fall. Leaves persist into winter.
Named for the many short side twigs or pinlike spurs. A popular, graceful lawn tree
with regular compact form and fine-textured foliage, Pin Oak is hardy and easily transplanted because the shallow fibrous
root system lacks tap
Image Gallery: 3 photo(s) available
Plant CharacteristicsDuration: Perennial Habit: Tree Leaf Complexity: Simple Leaf:
Green Autumn Foliage:
Brown Size Class:
Bloom InformationBloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
, DC Canada: ON Native Distribution: GA
n. to MA,
s. Ont., s. MI, IL, IA
& e. KS Native Habitat:
Wet woods; bottomlands
Growing ConditionsWater Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet , Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Heavy, poorly drained soils.
Conditions Comments: One of the faster growing oaks. Tolerates wet feet. Intolerant of alkaline soils. Susceptible to iron chlorosis which causes yellow coloration in the leaves through the summer months and can eventually kill the tree. Somewhat tolerant of city conditions. Pin oak is shallow-rooted and easily transplanted, and it will tolerate urban conditions in areas well outside its natural range (Kershaw).
BenefitUse Wildlife: Attracts songbirds, water birds, ground birds and mammals.
Use Other: Black ink can be made from galls formed by insects by steeping the galls in a small amount of water with some iron filings. (Hosie)
Attracts: Birds , Hummingbirds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Gray Hairstreak
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
is a larval host and/or nectar source for: