pin oak (quercus palustris)

pin oak is one of the most graceful and adaptable oaks, known for its strong pyramidal form and fine, deeply cut foliage. growing 60–80 feet tall, it develops a straight trunk with well-ordered, drooping lower branches and upright upper limbs, giving it a tidy yet striking silhouette.

its glossy, sharply lobed leaves turn rich shades of scarlet to bronze in autumn, often holding late into the season and lighting up landscapes when other trees have gone bare. the bark is smooth and dark in youth, aging to a refined gray with shallow ridges.

ecologically, pin oak is a keystone mast producer. its acorns, though small, are borne in heavy crops that sustain deer, turkeys, squirrels, ducks, and countless birds. the foliage supports hundreds of native moth and butterfly caterpillars, anchoring food webs for songbirds.

pin oak thrives where other oaks struggle. it excels in wet, heavy soils and floodplain conditions, making it an ideal tree for soggy yards, lowlands, or restoration projects. yet it also adapts well to upland plantings and urban landscapes, tolerating compaction, air pollution, and tough sites. fast-growing for an oak, it quickly creates shade and presence in the landscape.

planting notes

• height: 60–80 ft

• soil: thrives in moist to wet soils; tolerates clay and occasional flooding

• light: full sun

• fall color: scarlet to bronze

• growth: fast for an oak; long-lived

• wildlife: abundant acorns feed deer, turkeys, ducks, and squirrels; foliage hosts caterpillars for songbirds