Dwarf Chestnut Oak Quercus prinoides
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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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
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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
- 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
