An attractive oak with toothed leaves like those of a Chestnut tree. Grows in limestone soils (a rarity amongst oaks). Foliage is green and shiny, turning to yellow-orange in fall. Gray bark and gnarled branch structure on old specimens. New root pruning and fertilization techniques in nursery production have made oaks easier to transplant and have given them faster growth rates.
Native Plant Database
Callicarpa americana. Photo: Mervin Wallace
Chinkapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
Plant Type: Trees
Native Environment: Savanna / Woodland
Season of Interest: Winter (Nov - Mar)
Main Color: Green
Fall Color: Yellow
Hardy From Zone:
Hardy To Zone:
Sun Exposure
Soil
Moisture
Dry, Moderate
Nature Attracting
Wildlife Benefit
Cover, Nesting, Butterfly / Moth Host
Animal
Resistance
Size
Height:
40 to
70
feet
Spread:
45 to
75
feet
Size
Height: 40 to
70
feet
Spread: 45 to
75
feet
Size
Height: 40 to
70
feet
Spread: 45 to
75
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Great tree for large, park-like areas.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Can grow in high-pH, dry limestone soils and along sidewalks. Drought tolerant once established. Very easy to start from seed if kept protected from rodents the first year. Long-lived tree.
Special Features
Interesting Bark, Nuts
Special Usage
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
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What’s the Next Step?
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Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.