Pin Oak
Quercus palustris
By: Mr. DeStefano
Pin Oak Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
Phylum: Magnoliophyta (Angiosperms)
Class: Rosopsida (Eudicot)
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae (Beech)
Genus: Quercus (Oak)
Specie: Quercus palustris (Pin Oak)
Pin Oak Range
Pin Oaks are native to eastern North America and are one of the most popular
ornamental trees in the United States. They are large-sized deciduous tree that grow to
be 60-70 ft. tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 3 ft. They are relatively short-lived
trees compared to other oaks, but they still have an average lifespan of 90-120 years.
Identification:
The lower branches are often a
tangled mess. They tend to die off
as the tree grows taller, especially
in a wooded area.
The lower branches grow in a
downward direction any way so as
they die (due to lack of light) it
looks like they are surrounding the
trunk. The middle branches grow
horizontally while the upper
branches grow in an upward
direction.
Bark:
The bark is relatively thin and does not have deep furrows like burr oak, or
black oak.
FYI- It was used by some Native American tribes to make a drink for treating
intestinal pain.
Pin Oak Fruit:
An acorn (nut) matures at the
end of the second growing
season after flowering. Acorns
are dispersed from September
to early December.
The leaves of the pin oak tree
The pin oak leaf has "U-shaped" sinuses and bristled tips. There are three
to five inch alternate leaves have 5 to 7 points or lobes. The leaves are
deciduous but will usually persist on the tree into winter.
U-shaped sinus
Autumn Colors:
The leaves change in color from a dark green to a deep scarlet red in fall.
Five Fun Facts
How it got its name:
One might think that the pin oak gets it name from the
"pinny" appearance of the leaves and branches. Actually
the name comes from the practice years ago of "pinning
together" the timbers of a barn.
Pin Oak Wood:
The wood is generally marketed as red oak, but is of significantly inferior
quality, being somewhat weaker, often with many small knots. The wood is
hard and heavy and is used in general construction and for firewood.
They love the swamp!
The pin oak tree can typically be found in swampy, low lands of forested areas. It
is very common to see it in seasonal standing water where no other oaks are
growing.
It likes acidic soil which is common in the swampy spots of the forest.
Largest known pin oak in New
England, located in Northampton,
MA. 2005 measurements: Height
107.9 feet; Circumference 17.4
feet; Average Spread 96 feet
Ecology:
Pin oak acorns are an important food for
mallards and wood ducks during their fall
migration. Acorns are also an important
food for deer, squirrels, turkeys,
woodpeckers, and blue jays.
The End