Oak, Chinquapin

This Texas native is a deciduous, medium to large tree that grows from 40 to 90 feet tall, with a rounded crown that can spread 20 to 60 feet. In the wild it can be found growing on well-drained bottomland soils and limestone hills near water. Its LEAVES are alternate, simple, 4 to 6 �� long, glossy yellow-green to dark green above, white with soft hairs below, with a distinctive coarsely toothed margin.

The LEAVES turn yellow to bronze in the fall. Chinquapin Oak is monoecious (male and female flowers appearing on the same tree), with very small green to reddish female FLOWERS in the leaf axil, and long yellowish-green male catkins. Both are insignificant and appear with the leaves in the spring.

The FRUITS are sweet one-inch round dark brown acorns born on a short stalk or essentially no stalk with a cap that covers � to � of the nut. The BARK is thin and light gray & breaks into narrow, thin flakes.

The Chinquapin Oak adapts to many soil conditions, but does best in well-drained areas that do not experience severe drought. It handles alkalinity and heat well, is relatively free of disease or pest problems and is resistant to oak wilt. It is a very attractive and trouble-free shade tree. The Chinquapin acorn is relished by a wide variety of wildlife including wild turkeys, grouse, whitetail deer, black bears, chipmunks, squirrels and hogs.