Chinkapin Oak Tree

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

40 - 60 Feet

Mature Spread

50 - 70 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 7

The Chinkapin Oak Tree or Quercus muehlenbergii is a white Oak tree with a full, lovely form. Mature trees stand 40 to 60 feet tall and 50 to 70 feet wide. The glossy green foliage has slight hints of yellow. The leaves are smaller than many other Oak varieties but look similar to chestnut leaves. The foliage has a narrow form with coarsely toothed or wavy edges. Leaves transition to golden yellow or coppery brown by fall. The light gray bark has an irregular texture and provides color and contrast in a winter landscape. Springtime flowers are not very showy but lead to acorns that provide additional color and texture, and serve as a valuable food source for birds and other animals.

Young Chinkapin Oak Trees have a pyramidal appearance that develops into an open form and full, rounded canopy with maturity. Use this tree to line a street or driveway or to cast shade on a home or outdoor entertaining area. This deciduous tree thrives in environments that are unsuitable for many oak cultivars. The Chinkapin Oak is a low-maintenance tree that is generally disease resistant and long lived.

Chinkapin Oak Tree Care

Plant Chinkapin in full sun. Unlike most oak trees, the Chinkapin Oak can handle alkaline soil. It prefers fertile soil that is moist and well drained. Young trees need consistent water. Established trees only need water during an extended dry period. 

Prune Chinkapin Oak trees during winter when the tree is dormant. Trees are more susceptible to disease when pruned during the growing season, and pruning during dormancy is less stressful for the tree.

Chinkapin Oak Tree Spacing

Plant trees 60 feet apart, from center to center, so each canopy has room to spread. Allow a minimum of 70 feet between the tree and buildings, including homes and sheds. The Chinkapin Oak Tree has a central tap root, which allows ground covers or perennial shrubs to grow in the dappled light underneath the tree without interfering with the tree’s growth.