Chinkapin Oak

Chinkapin Oak  Quercus muehlenbergii 

Mature Size:  20 to 50 feet in height but may reach 160 feet. 6 inches to 4 feet in diameter.

Form: Open, rounded crown

Where to find them:  Occurs naturally on calcium rich soils and can tolerate prolonged dry conditions understory in upland hardwood forests, most common on drier soils.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, about 6 inches long, shallow-lobed, glossy, dark green with sharp teeth.

Flowers: Flowers are catkins, appearing in spring

Fruit: Fruit an acorn, ¾ inch long, about half covered by a thin cap.  Twigs, buds, and acorn caps resemble Chestnut Oak, but the bark is light gray and flaky, not ridged.  

Bark: Light gray, flaky, resembling white oak

Wildlife Use:  All oaks rank high in wildlife use.  Being among the white oak family, Chinkapin oaks produce acorns thought to be more palatable.  Deer, turkey, and small mammals like gray squirrels make these and other acorns a staple of their fall diet.

Bark:  Light brown tinged with red, slightly furrowed and broken into loose scaly plates.