A medium-sized oak with distinctive horizontal branching pattern. Common urban planting; tolerates compacted soils.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Quercus palustris, also called pin oak, swamp oak, or swamp Spanish oak, is a tree in the red oak section of the genus Quercus. Pin oak is one of the most commonly used landscaping oaks in its native range due to its ease of transplant, relatively fast growth, and pollution tolerance.
Source: Wikipedia — Quercus palustris Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium tree with deeply pinnately-lobed leaves; droopy lower branches that persist; small acorns.
Similar species. Northern Red Oak (different shape). Black Oak (different bark).
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Common urban tree; tolerates poor soils. Distinctive droopy lower branches.
§ Range
Eastern North America
§ Habitat
Wet bottomlands, suburban yards
§ Threats
Wetland loss, oak wilt disease.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the pin oak is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant native oaks. Support diverse oak landscapes.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Quercus palustris
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Quercus palustris
- iNaturalist · taxon 49157
- IUCN Red List — search for Quercus palustris
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Quercus palustris
§ Sources cited
- USDA Forest Service Silvics Manual
