Pin Oak
Quercus palustris
A magnificent native oak prized for its distinctive pyramidal shape and reliable, brilliant red-orange fall color that lasts for weeks. The Pin Oak's unique branching pattern—upward angled upper branches, horizontal middle branches, and downward lower branches—creates an instantly recognizable silhouette. Fast-growing for an oak and extremely tolerant of urban conditions, it provides excellent shade while supporting wildlife with its abundant acorn production.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
4–8
USDA hardiness
Height
50-70 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Pin Oak in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shade-tree →Zone Map
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Pin Oak · Zones 4–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet. Water: Easy to Grow, Edible fruit, Shade, Wildlife Cover/Habitat, Wildlife Food Source. Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
1/4-1/2-inch acorns are round and short-stalked occurring singly or in clusters of 2-3, from light brown to reddish-brown with a shallow and thin cup. The fruits are initially green and then tan. The cap is thin and smooth and covers 1/4 to 1/3 of the fruit. Displays from October to November. It may take up to 15 to 20 years before the tree produces acorns.
Color: Brown/Copper, Red/Burgundy. Type: Nut. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Showy
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out
History & Origin
Origin: South Ontario to North Central & Eastern U.S.A
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Heat, Pollution, Wet Soil
- +Attracts: Easy to Grow, Edible fruit, Shade, Wildlife Cover/Habitat, Wildlife Food Source
- +Edible: Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Fruits, Leaves): Low severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Azalea
Both thrive in acidic soil conditions that Pin Oak naturally creates
Rhododendron
Tolerates acidic soil and partial shade created by Pin Oak canopy
Blueberry
Benefits from acidic soil conditions and partial shade protection
Fern
Thrives in the moist, shaded understory conditions beneath Pin Oak
Hosta
Excellent shade tolerance and complements Pin Oak's understory environment
Wild Ginger
Native groundcover that thrives in acidic woodland conditions
Serviceberry
Compatible native understory tree that tolerates Pin Oak's root competition
Coral Bells
Shade-tolerant perennial that handles acidic soil well
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that can damage Pin Oak's root system
Sugar Maple
Competes aggressively for nutrients and creates dense shade that Pin Oak cannot tolerate
Tomato
Cannot tolerate the deep shade and acidic soil conditions under Pin Oak
Lawn Grass
Competes heavily for surface water and nutrients, struggles in Pin Oak's acidic leaf litter
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally healthy, may develop chlorosis in alkaline soils
Common Pests
Gypsy moth, oak leafroller, scale insects, oak gall wasps
Diseases
Oak wilt, anthracnose, powdery mildew, iron chlorosis in high pH soils