Quercus palustris

Common name(s): Pin Oak, Spanish Swamp Oak, Swamp Spanish Oak

Family: Fagaceae Synonym(s): Quercus palustris var. heterophylla, Quercus rubra var. dissecta, Quercus rubra var. palustris
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Plant_autumn
Plant (Autumn)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark_lower
Bark (Lower)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington
Fruit
Fruit
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Plant Properties
Origin(s)
United States
  • Vir.: Indigenous
  • Arkansas: Indigenous
  • North Caro: Indigenous
  • Nebraska: Indigenous
  • Kansas: Indigenous
  • Oklahoma: Indigenous
  • New York: Indigenous
  • Pennsylvan: Indigenous
  • New Hampsh: Indigenous
  • Massachuse: Indigenous
  • Missouri: Indigenous
  • West Virgi: Indigenous
  • Michigan: Indigenous
  • Indiana: Indigenous
  • Iowa: Indigenous
  • Ohio: Indigenous
  • Tennesee: Indigenous
Plant Type
Deciduous Tree
Deciduous Tree
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm
Temperate Cool,
Temperate Warm
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full
Sun - Full
Habitat Range(s)
Garden, Forest - Grassy, Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Landscape, Sclerophyll Forest - Wet
Garden,
Forest - Grassy,
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Landscape,
Sclerophyll Forest - Wet
Habitat Zone(s)
Bogs, Flood Plains, Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Riparian areas, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Water sides, Well drained, Wet Pockets
Bogs,
Flood Plains,
Garden,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Open areas,
Riparian areas,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams,
Water sides,
Well drained,
Wet Pockets
Mature Height
20-25m
20-25m
Mature Width
10-15m
10-15m
Plant Shape
Domed - Broad
Domed - Broad
Domed - Narrow
Domed - Narrow
Domed - Broad Domed - Broad,
Domed - Narrow Domed - Narrow
Trunk Deliquescent , Trunk Excurrent
Trunk Deliquescent,
Trunk Excurrent
Growth Rate
Moderate, Fast
Moderate,
Fast
Life Span
100-150yrs
100-150yrs
Leaf Properties
Colour (front)
Glossy, Green
Glossy,
Green
Colour (back)
Green, Orange-brown
Green,
Orange-brown
Colour(s) Autumn
Brown-red, Red, Red-brown
Brown-red,
Red,
Red-brown
Shape(s)
Lobed Pinnately / Pinnatifid
Lobed Pinnately / Pinnatifid
Lobed Pinnately / Pinnatifid Lobed Pinnately / Pinnatifid
Aroma
None
None
Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Glabrous Glabrous
Texture (back)
Pannose
Pannose
Pannose Pannose
Leaf Length(s)
90-100mm, 100-125mm, 125-150mm, 150-175mm
90-100mm,
100-125mm,
125-150mm,
150-175mm
Leaf Width(s)
50-60mm, 60-70mm, 70-80mm, 80-90mm
50-60mm,
60-70mm,
70-80mm,
80-90mm
Margin
Dentate
Dentate
Lobed
Lobed
Dentate Dentate,
Lobed Lobed
Bark / Stem / Culm Properties
Colour(s) Upper
Grey-brown , Grey-brown Dark
Grey-brown,
Grey-brown Dark
Texture(s) Upper
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Smooth
Smooth
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous,
Smooth Smooth
Ridged
Ridged
Trunk / Stem Construction(s)
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood - Hard
Wood - Hard
Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section
Terete
Terete
Terete Terete
Trunk / Stem / Culm Diameter
3-3.5m
3-3.5m
Flower Properties
Gender: Male
Time(s)
Spring Early - Spring Late
Flower Colour(s)
Grey-green, Brown Light
Grey-green,
Brown Light
Aroma(s)
None
None
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects
Bees,
Insects
Male and Female Flowers, Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Gender: Female
Time(s)
Spring Early - Spring Late
Flower Colour(s)
Green-yellow, Brown Light
Green-yellow,
Brown Light
Aroma(s)
None
None
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects
Bees,
Insects
Male and Female Flowers, Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Fruit Properties
Type
Glans
Glans
Glans Glans
Outer Colour(s)
Brown Light
Brown Light
Outer Texture
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Smooth
Smooth
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous,
Smooth Smooth
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Fibrous
Fibrous
Plate
Plate
Fibrous Fibrous,
Plate Plate
Shallow , Spreading
Shallow,
Spreading
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay, Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Clay,
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral
Condition(s)
Wet
Wet
Moist
Moist
Wet Wet,
Moist Moist
Fertile , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
None
None
None None
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Seed, Habitat
Seed,
Habitat
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
None
None
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
Medium
Medium
Landscape Use
Good
Good
Maintenance(s)
Pruning - Periodical, Pruning - Shaping
Pruning - Periodical,
Pruning - Shaping
Pests/Diseases
Borers, Root Rot Fungus
Borers,
Root Rot Fungus
Special Purpose(s)
Carpentry, Drain Clogger, Erosion Control, Firewood, Foliage-autumn, Garden-Formal, Garden-Informal, Garden-Woodland, Interesting Buds or Fruit, Phytophthora Susceptible, Pond Edge, Screen, Shade tree-Medium, Soil Binder, Specimen, Windbreak
Carpentry,
Drain Clogger,
Erosion Control,
Firewood,
Foliage-autumn,
Garden-Formal,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Woodland,
Interesting Buds or Fruit,
Phytophthora Susceptible,
Pond Edge,
Screen,
Shade tree-Medium,
Soil Binder,
Specimen,
Windbreak

General Notes

A common landscape plant in its native range. A good shade or specimen tree for large gardens and park land areas. An unusual characteristic of the younger trees is the phenomenon refeffed to as marcescence where the leaves are retained by the tree even though they are dead, falling off as the new leaves start to shoot. The acorn takes 18 months to mature. A natural wetland tree it develops a shallow fibrous root system. Branching of the tree is unusual, upper branches, ascend, middle branches are horizontal, lower branches, hang or droop, which makes it difficult to prune for a street tree.

Recipient of Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities.