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

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Plant (Autumn)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

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

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm

Temperate Cool,

Temperate Warm

Aspect Range(s)

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

Mature Width

10-15m

Plant Shape

Domed - Broad

Domed - Narrow

Domed - Broad,

Domed - Narrow

Trunk Deliquescent , Trunk Excurrent

Trunk Deliquescent,

Trunk Excurrent

Growth Rate

Moderate, Fast

Moderate,

Fast

Life Span

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

Aroma

None

Texture (front)

Glabrous

Texture (back)

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

Lobed

Dentate,

Lobed

Cross Section(s)

Concave

Flat

Concave,

Flat

Venation(s)

Pinnate

Reticulate

Pinnate,

Reticulate

Arrangement

Alternate & Spiralled

Apice(s)

Spinous

Base(s)

Hastate

Obtuse

Hastate,

Obtuse

Attachment

Petiolate

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Colour(s) Upper

Grey-brown , Grey-brown Dark

Grey-brown,

Grey-brown Dark

Texture(s) Upper

Rough / Scabrous

Smooth

Rough / Scabrous,

Smooth

Ridged

Trunk / Stem Construction(s)

Wood Fibres / Solid

Wood - Hard

Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section

Terete

Trunk / Stem / Culm Diameter

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

Arrangement(s)

Catkin

Arrangement Size(s)

100-125mm, 125-150mm

100-125mm,

125-150mm

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects

Bees,

Insects

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

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

Arrangement(s)

Catkin

Arrangement Size(s)

100-125mm, 125-150mm

100-125mm,

125-150mm

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects

Bees,

Insects

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Separate Plant

Fruit Properties

Type

Glans

Shape(s)

Globose

Orbicular

Globose,

Orbicular

Outer Colour(s)

Brown Light

Outer Texture

Rough / Scabrous

Smooth

Rough / Scabrous,

Smooth

Length

10-15mm

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Nut

Colour(s)

Brown Light

Shape(s)

Globose

Orbicular

Globose,

Orbicular

Texture(s)

Smooth

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Plate

Fibrous,

Plate

Shallow , Spreading

Shallow,

Spreading

Texture

Rough / Scabrous

Hard , Stiff , Woody

Hard,

Stiff,

Woody

Colour(s)

Brown Dark, Brown-grey

Brown Dark,

Brown-grey

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

Moist

Wet,

Moist

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

None

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Seed, Habitat

Seed,

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

High

Wood Density

Medium High 600 - 800 kg/c.m.

Coastal

None

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed

Fire Retarding

None

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

Medium

Smog Tolerant

Very Good

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

Moderate

Commercial Use(s)

Timber - Carpentry, building

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

Propagation

Fresh Seed

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.

Propagation Notes

Fresh Seed

Flowering

Sep, Oct, Nov

Seed Collecting

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Sowing

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Material Preparation

The acorns can take 18 mths. to mature and are ready to sow when dropped.

Collect the acorns as they fall. Place on a large tray to dry thoroughly for 2-3 weeks. Remove the caps and store in a cool, dark place. Sow as soon as possible as the young seedlings do best to go dormant over winter.

Viability:- 1 - 2 years

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

Treatment

Sow individual seed in P2 tubes, cover with mix, approximately 10 - 15 mm deep, water in. Place outside in a sheltered position or a cold house.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 4 - 6 weeks

Pricking out:-

Tube Mix:- Premium Seed Raising Mix

Notes

Under natural conditions, seed normally starts to germinate as soon as it hits the ground. The new seedling will then over-winter.