Rubus allegheniensis #2 (Allegheny Blackberry)
December 26, 2022Abies concolor #3 (White Fir)
December 26, 2022Quercus montana #2 (Chestnut Oak)
$24.99
-Part Sun, Full Sun
-Moist to Dry Soil (FACU, UPL)
-Acidic pH
-50-70′ Tall by 50-70′ Wide
-Rounded, Dense Crown
-Catkins from mid-late Spring
-Large Acorns in Fall
-Drought tolerant
-Zone 4
-Edible Acorns
-Dye (Ink) from Galls
-Ohio Native
Out of stock
Chestnut Oak is a medium-sized native shade tree. It typically grows in dry, rocky soils but puts on faster growth in moist, well-drained sites. It is drought tolerant once established due to its deep tap root. The common name comes from its resemblance to Chestnut trees in its leaf shape and its thick, deeply channeled bark. This species is part of the White Oak group and has a moderate growth rate of 12-15′ in 7-10 years.
Oaks are an ecological keystone genus which is invaluable to the food web and life cycles of insects, birds and other wild creatures. They are host to some 436 species of Lepidoptera, at the very top of the list for our ecoregion. Innumerable bird species rely on Oaks for their bounty of caterpillars and other insects, making them living birdfeeders. Oaks also provide cover, cavities for dens, roosts, and nesting sites. The acorns, especially those of the White Oak group, are a necessary food supply for birds and mammals alike. Deer and rabbits do tend to browse or strip the bark of young oaks, so protection (especially through winter) is highly advised.
Sources:
Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines by William Cullina
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr
Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees by Charlotte Adelman & Bernard L. Schwartz
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
NC State Extension
Photo Credits:
Mature Individual: Bruce Kirchoff from Greensboro, NC, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fall Color: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Acorns: Douglas Goldman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Catkins: Dan Keck from Ohio, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mature Bark: Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons