The southern look-alike for the Pin Oak, native to the lower Mississippi River Valley, but adapts and grows well in many areas. Does not hold its leaves in winter. Acorns are 3/4″ – 1 1/4″ long and covered 1/3 – 1/2 by cap. A fast growing and adaptable oak that should be planted more. The Nuttall is tolerant of wet soils and high pH. Try it instead of Pin Oak!
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Nuttall Oak
Quercus texana
Plant Type: Trees
Native Environment: Forest
Season of Interest:
Main Color: Green
Fall Color:
USDA PLANTS Range Map
At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data
Photo: Felicia Brundick
Sun Exposure
Soil
Moisture
Moderate, High
Nature Attracting
Wildlife Benefit
Butterfly / Moth Host, Nesting
Animal
Resistance
Size
Height:
40 to
80
feet
Spread:
25 to
40
feet
Size
Height: 40 to
80
feet
Spread: 25 to
40
feet
Size
Height: 40 to
80
feet
Spread: 25 to
40
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Good for wet areas and develops a nice canopy (head) at an early age.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Found in flood plains, bottomlands & river terraces. Tolerant of a wide range of soils. Native lowlands,but is drought tolerant and will grow in wet clay soils! Grows successfully in high pH (alkaline) soils where other oaks go yellow and often fail. Purchase acorn-grown nursery stock that prohibits root circling, which causes poor transplantability.
Special Features
Nuts
Special Usage
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
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.