Michaux Oak Quercus michauxii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Quercus houstoniana
- Quercus prinus
- Quercus prinus var. michauxii
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus miss-SHOW-ee-eye
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Swamp Chestnut Oak is a native deciduous tree that may grow 60 to 80 feet tall. The dense crown is rounded with an irregular spread. It is native to swampy areas and low woodlands of the southeastern coastal plain and the Mississippi river valley. Its preference is for moist, well-drained, acidic sandy to silty clay loams in full sun to part sun. It tolerates wet soils and occasional flooding.
Chestnut Oak is adaptable to urban conditions and makes a great shade tree for a larger yard or park. As with most native oaks, it is a high-value wildlife plant. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Edward's hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), White-m hairstreak (Parrhasius malbum), Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), and Juvenalis duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis).
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Oaks, in general, are susceptible to a large number of diseases, including chestnut blight, shoestring root rot, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, cankers, leaf spots, and powdery mildew. This tree is resistant to oak wilt. Potential insect pests include scale, oak skeletonizer, leaf miner, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars and nut weevils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- michauxii
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is used in many kinds of construction; for agricultural implements, wheels, veneer, boards, fence posts, tight cooperage, baskets and fuel. It has commercial uses as fencepost and furniture, as well.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Found along the eastern United States, far north as Maine, south into northern Florida and west into Texas.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, rough grouse, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and black bears.
- Play Value:
- Shade
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Acorns are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Open
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Acorns are 1 to 1.5 inches long, sessile, and are usually produced singly or in clusters of 2 or 3. 1/3 to 1/2 is covered by a hairy, grey to brown scaly cup. These acorns are sweet-tasting and can be eaten from the tree unlike other acorns. Acorns are typically not produced until the tree reaches 20-25 years old. In North Carolina, the acorns are available from September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Male pollen flowers in slender yellow catkins to 2-4" long and female flowers in very short few-flowered reddish spikes. Both grow on the same tree (monoecious). In North Carolina, flowers are available in April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Lobed
- Sinuate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 9 inch long oval simple leaves which are shiny green above and grey-green pubescent on the undersides. Margins are wavy with rounded teeth that are also sometimes described as small lobes. Orange-yellow to yellow-brown to dark red fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Peeling
- Ridges
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- The bark is light gray with deep v-shaped furrows producing broad, flaky ridges.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- New growth is green, progressing to brown during the first winter and turning gray during the second year.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Erosion
- Fire
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
