Chinkapin oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
Fagaceae


Landscape Uses:

Shade tree.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries in northern Florida.
Description:
Deciduous tree 90 feet tall with 2-6 inch leaves with numerous shallow lobes that appear to undulate and are pointed at the end of each lobe.
Height:
Typically 90 feet in height, taller than broad.
Growth Rate:
Fast when young, slows with age.
Range:
Eastern half of the United States from Vermont to Wisconsin, south to Texas and the Florida panhandle from Walton to Jefferson counties. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the Exploring Florida website.
Habitats:
Bluff forests and mesic, calcareous hammocks.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained limestone or calcareous sandy soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
Flower Characteristics:
Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season:
Late spring.
Fruit:
Acorn one half inch.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.