Pin oak, Swamp oak
Quercus palustris
Family: Fagaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It grows 18-25 m tall and spreads 12-15 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The lower branches droop downwards. The leaf stalk is 2.5-5 cm long. The leaves are oval and 10-20 cm long by 7-10 cm wide. The leaves are glossy and deeply divided. There are 5-7 lobes. The leaves are mid-green and turn red-brown in autumn. The female flowering stalks are about 1 cm long. There can be 1, 2 or 3 cups. They enclose about 1/3 of the nut. The nut is brownish and narrow and oval. It is 2-2.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. The cup is saucer like.
There are about 600 Quercus species. It is a cultivated plant in China.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is native to S.E. Canada and E. United States. They are frost hardy. It normally grows on poorly drained soils, in swamps and along streams. It is intolerant of shade. It does not suit chalky soils. It suits hardiness zones 3-10. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania. National Arboretum Canberra.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, Britain, China, Canada, East Africa, Europe, North America, Southern Africa, Tasmania, USA (country/location of origin), Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The nut or acorn is bitter with tannin. It is occasionally eaten after leaching. The wood is used for smoke flavouring during barbecue cooking.
Edible parts
Seeds, nuts
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed.
It is a fast growing tree. The acorns take 2 years to mature.
Its other names
Local names
Zhao sheng li