Organic Forest Plants & More

Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus L.)

Trees and Shrubs

: 4 - 8

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Tree

Mature Size: Height: 80 ft. Height at 20 years: 25 ft. Diameter: 6 ft.

Flowers: Mid spring.

Fruit (acorns): Spring - Fall (drop from early September - early October).

Common alternate names for Chestnut Oak: tanbark oak, rock chestnut oak, rock oak.

Scientific name for Chestnut Oak: Quercus prinus L.

Planting Information: 

Chestnut oak grows best in rich, well-drained soils along streams, but can also adapt to dry, infertile, and rocky conditions. Other indicators of good chestnut oak sites are subsoils with more than 15 percent silt, loam or sandy loam surface soils, and sites where litter decomposes rapidly. NOTE: As with most white oaks, the growth is slow on almost all sites.

This tree grows in full sun to partial shade.

Colors: Leaves: deciduous, yellow to yellow-brown in fall. Flowers: yellow. Acorns: brown, shiny.

Edible - food uses of Chestnut Oak: N/A

Healing medicinal qualities of Chestnut Oak: N/A

Other uses for Chestnut Oak:

Dye: This species is a source of tannin extract (used for tanning of leather, dyeing, etc.), giving the tree another common name: tanbark oak.

Timber: Chestnut oak lumber is similar to and marketed as white oak.

Wildlife:

The acorns of chestnut oak, along with those of the other oaks, are an important food for many wildlife species including deer, turkeys, squirrels, chipmunks, and mice.

General description and characteristics of Chestnut Oak: 

Chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), sometimes called rock chestnut oak, rock oak, or tanbark oak, is commonly found in the Appalachian region on dry, infertile soils and rocky ridges but reaches best growth on rich well-drained soils along streams. Good acorn crops on this medium-sized, long-lived tree are infrequent, but the sweet nuts are eaten by wildlife when available. Chestnut oak is slow growing and the lumber is cut and sold as white oak.