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Dwarf Chestnut Oak Quercus prinoides

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
KWER-kus
Description

Dwarf Chinquapin Oak is a native deciduous oak tree in the Fagaceae family that can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. It is found in sunny sites, often in rocky or acid sandy soils on dry plains, rocky bluffs, ridges and woodland edges. It is easily adaptable to garden loams for the home landscape and tolerates poor, dry soils. It has a deep taproot and is difficult to transplant.

The male and female flowers bloom in spring and produce acorns in fall. Unlike many oaks, this tree produces acorns in 3-5 years and has a good crop each year that wildlife love.

Use in an open woodland setting, small groupings for wildlife, or as a shade or specimen tree for smaller yards. It can be used in areas with poor, dry soils to help with erosion.

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).

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#native tree#moth caterpillar host#small mammals#NC native#acorns#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#deciduous tree#sandy soils tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#problem for horses#banded hairstreak butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#imperial moth#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly#edward’s hairstreak butterfly#white-m hairstreak butterfly#horace’s duskywing butterfly#butterfly caterpillar host#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#native tree#moth caterpillar host#small mammals#NC native#acorns#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#deciduous tree#sandy soils tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#problem for horses#banded hairstreak butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#imperial moth#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly#edward’s hairstreak butterfly#white-m hairstreak butterfly#horace’s duskywing butterfly#butterfly caterpillar host#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Quercus
    Species:
    prinoides
    Family:
    Fagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America
    Distribution:
    USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , ON , QC
    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 a primary food for many bird species, including Wood Ducks, Ruffed Grouse, Quail, Wild Turkey, Grackles, Jays, Nuthatches, Thrashers, Titmice, Towhees, and Woodpeckers. Also eaten by Bears, Raccoons, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Deer, and Peccary.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Open
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The oval smooth brown acorns are 1/2 to 3/4 inch long with a tan cap that is warty and extends to 1/3 of the nut. Mature acorns are nearly black.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    The yellow-green male flowers occur in 1-2.5 inch long catkins. The inconspicuous female flowers are solitary or in groups of 2-3 at the ends of branches. Blooming occurs in spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Lobed
    Serrate
    Undulate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The oval yellow-green leaves are 2-5 inches long and 1-2.5 inches wide. The undersides are grayish-green to white with fine hairs. The margins can be wavy, toothed or shallowly lobed.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Scaly
    Bark Plate Shape:
    Irregular
    Bark Description:
    The bark is predominately gray, rough-textured, scaly, and irregularly fissured.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Lenticels:
    Not Conspicuous
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Young twigs are brown with scattered lenticels and are glabrous or slightly pubescent.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Poor Soil
    Problems:
    Problem for Horses