# pin oak (*Quercus palustris*) The pin oak is a tall tree with beautiful, pointed leaves that turn bright colors in the fall. It provides shade and homes for many animals, making it a great tree for parks and gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![pin oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pin_oak_quercus_palustris.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pin_oak_quercus_palustris.jpg) ## Appearance The pin oak has distinctively deep-lobed, glossy green leaves that turn vibrant red or bronze in autumn. Its lower branches typically droop downwards, giving the tree a unique, somewhat layered appearance. Look for small, striped acorns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Even in winter, you can spot its tiny, pointed buds waiting for spring! - Its wood is very strong and was once used for making tough railway ties! - Pin oaks can live over 120 years, growing as tall as a six-story building! - The "pin" in its name might refer to the short, stiff branches or tiny spurs. ## Special abilities - **Waterlogged Warrior:** Pin oak can thrive in wet, poorly drained soils because its shallow root system is adapted to low oxygen environments. - **Fast-Grower:** Pin oak has a rapid growth rate, allowing it to quickly establish itself and compete for sunlight in its habitat. - **Acorn Avalanche:** Pin oak produces abundant small acorns that feed many animals, helping to ensure its seeds are widely dispersed. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1800-2200 cm - **Spread:** 1200-1500 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — buries and eats its acorns - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses its leaves and twigs - **Eats:** Pink-striped Oakworm (*Anisota virginiensis*) — caterpillars feed on its leaves ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree's branches and acorns, as they can fall and cause a bump! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify pin oak? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is pin oak? 1800-2200 cm ### How wide does pin oak spread? 1200-1500 cm ### When does pin oak bloom? Spring ### Is pin oak edible? No ### Is pin oak toxic? Mild ### What is pin oak's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is pin oak pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Cedarmere-Clayton Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarmere-clayton-estates) — New York, US · Historic District - [Rutgers Ecological Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutgers-ecological-preserve) — New Jersey, US · Nature Reserve - [Rutgers Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutgers-gardens) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [Rolling Hills Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rolling-hills-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Maumee State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maumee-state-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest - [Philadelphia Naval Shipyard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/philadelphia-naval-shipyard) — US · Historic District [View all places to see pin oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pin-oak) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Pin Oak: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pin-oak)