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| ## pin oak {#pin-oak .Title-Header}                                   |
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| *Quercus palustris* Muenchh.                                          |
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| Plant Symbol = QUPA2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS New York State Office

![Color image of Pin Oak (Quercus palustris
Muenchh)](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.0in" height="2.0in"}

**Uses**

Even though the wood is heavy, strong, and hard, pin oak is typically
used for fuel wood, wood pulp, and railroad ties, since it tends to
warp. Due to this species' form, adaptability, growth rate, longevity,
and fall foliar display, it is popular for ornamental usage. Pin oak is
utilized by many game species, especially wood ducks, white-tail deer,
and wild turkey. Due to its use by these highly sought after animals,
pin oak is commonly planted for food plots.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

Pin oak is a moderately large tree with normal heights ranging from 70
to 90 feet with diameters between 2 and 3 feet. Trees reaching 120 feet
tall with 5-foot diameters are occasionally encountered on good sites.
The bark of this tree is smooth, reddish to grayish-brown during the
juvenile period, becoming darker and shallowly fissured as the tree
growth slows with age. The lower branches of pin oak are prostrate to
descending, with smooth, slender, reddish-brown twigs. Clusters of
pointed buds are located at the tips of twigs. Three to five inch
alternate leaves have 5 to 7 points or lobes with bristled tips and deep
C-shaped sinuses. The leaves change in color from a dark green to a deep
scarlet red in fall. The leaves are deciduous but will usually persist
on the tree into winter.

The flowers of pin oak emerge soon after new leaves unfold in spring
(April to mid-May). The acorns that develop are roundish, short stalked,
3/8 to 1/2 inches long, and capped with a thin and shallow saucer-like
cup. The acorns will take 16 to 18 months to develop from pollination to
maturity. When mature the acorn turns light brown to reddish-brown, and
will drop from September to November. In 30 to 35 year old stands of pin
oak, 4,000 to 20,000 sound acorns per acre yields have been documented.
There are 410 acorns per pound.

Pin oak is often confused with scarlet oak (*Q. coccinea)* due to
similar appearance. Scarlet oak is an upland species that prefers soils
with good drainage on dry sites.

##### Adaptation and Distribution {#adaptation-and-distribution .Header-3}

Pin oak's native range spans from Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Michigan,
to Kansas south to North Carolina and northern Arkansas. This tree grows
under a wide range of site conditions, but is a true bottomland tree. It
is seldom found growing above elevations of 800 feet, or on sloped
ground. Pin oak grows in practically pure stands with good growth rates
on wet, shallow sites with heavy soils that drain poorly. On better
quality sites it will often grow larger, but is normally out competed by
other species.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### 

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Both seed and stump sprouts are sources of natural regeneration for pin
oak. Although viable acorns sink, this species is often dispersed by
water, as well as animals, wind, and gravity. In areas that are
regularly flooded, acorn damage by insects is reduced and germination is
typically faster than most other species. Since there is more than
adequate annual seed yields and adequate moisture on the forest floor in
spring, it is not uncommon to see seedlings blanketing the ground under
pin oak.

Under nursery production conditions, mature acorns are placed on raised
beds in fall or spring, but germination will not occur until spring.
Shoot elongation begins about the same time as leaf out of established
trees and continues until fall. Seedlings are distributed by most
nurseries as 1 year old bareroot stock for field plantings, but balled
and burlapped saplings are distributed for ornamental uses.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Pin oak typically requires management only during the first few years
after outplanting to a permanent site. Weed competition and deer browse
must be managed in many locations. Site preparation to control weeds the
year prior to outplanting will pay dividends in increased growth rate.
Contact herbicides, used according to the label, and/or control by
tillage are most commonly used. There are a variety of deer control
products that may be useful such as tubes or mesh sleeves over the
seedling.

Weeds and deer control require repetitive action and maintenance to be
effective.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

Livestock must be kept out of tree and shrub planting areas. Insect and
diseases include gypsy moth and oak wilt. Gypsy moth should be
controlled when the trees are young, but older trees can tolerate
infrequent defoliation. Little can be done about oak wilt. Entire stands
may be killed by prolonged flooding.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

'Crownright,' 'Sovereign.' The species is available through numerous
native plant nurseries. Nursery produced seedlings are currently grown
from local or regional seed sources.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator: {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

*John Dickerson* (retired), USDA NRCS New York State Office, Syracuse,
New York

##### 

##### Edited: 05Feb2002 JLK; 060816 jsp {#edited-05feb2002-jlk-060816-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*