chinkapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii Engelm' Synonyms: Quercus acuminata, Q' alexanderi, Q' castanea,

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chinkapin oakQuercus muehlenbergii
Engelm.Synonyms Quercus acuminata, Q.
alexanderi, Q. castanea, Q. prinoides.Other
common names Chinquapin oak, yellow chestnut
oak, yellow oak, chestnut oak, rock chestnut
oak, rock oak.

• PLANT FACTS
• Chinkapins are most commonly found on
  well-drained bottomland soils and limestone hills
  near water. They occur in all states east of the
  Mississippi River. It generally grows from 50 to
  90 feet in height, a canopy of 20 to 40 feet in
  width and a diameter of 18 to 24 inches. The
  champion tree is 100 feet tall with a trunk
  diameter of 6 feet in Breckenridge County,
  Kentucky. The Chinkapin can live to be 600 years
  old.
• It naturally crosses readily with a number of
  other oak species. Several hybrid trees have
  been identified.
• Because it holds up well to strong winds it makes
  a good moderate size tree in windbreaks. It is
  very susceptible to salt and is rarely found near
  any oceans. It is a good ornamental tree for
  landscaping in very large open spaces, which have
  deep, uncompacted soils.
• It seldom grows large enough or in abundance to
  be commercially important, but it does make good
  firewood.

Photo courtesy of Kansas Forest Service.
Slide developed by Pat Broyles, Soil
Conservationist, Manhattan, KS. PMC. USDA is an
equal opportunity employer.