Planting a Young Pin Oak Tree

Pin Oak Tree

Pin oak is a large deciduous tree with distinctive deeply lobed leaves and tiny acorns. It is known for its pyramidal shape and tolerance of wet soil conditions, making it a popular choice in landscaping. The pin oak, also known as Quercus palustris, is an especially common type for landscaping purposes in its native area. This is partially because it grows relatively fast, at a rate of approximately 2 feet a year. It generally reaches a final height of 60-80 feet, sometimes exceeding 100 feet, while its spread tends to be around 25-40 feet. Its usual lifespan is 120 years. Locations The Pin Oak Tree Likes Their native area is a swath of land from New England to North Carolina in the east and westward to Kansas and Oklahoma. They are also found in extensive numbers in Indiana and Ohio. Of course, they are also found in other parts of the world, the United Kingdom and Australia being notable examples. They tend to be located in damp areas, particularly near lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as in wet, low-lying places. The "palustris" part of its alternate name accurately describes this tendency as it means "of swamps." However, they do not grow at high elevations, roughly anywhere from 1,100 feet in elevation and above, or on sloped surfaces. Distinctive Canopy Of The Pin Oak Tree One way this type of greenery stands out from similar ones is its canopy. That is because the branches towards its lower portion tend to point downwards; the ones in the middle are usually pointing nearly directly to the sides, and branches at the top are usually pointing upwards. The Leaves Of The Pin Oak Tree The leaves have five or seven points on their lobes. They are usually 2-6 inches long and 2-4 inches broad. Because it is deciduous, its leaves are shed every fall and regrown every spring. That said, some younger ones of this type, such as those with a height of 20 feet or less, keep leaves through the winter. The Pin Oak Tree is easy to transport because they have shallow, fibrous roots with no accompanying taproots. This root system also allows it to adapt to flooded conditions.