• Quercus palustris (Pin Oak) native plant in bloom
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Quercus palustris (Pin Oak)

Quercus palustris (Pin Oak)

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Pin oak tolerates flooding during winter and early-spring dormancy, not throughout active growth. Choose moist, acidic ground that drains during the growing season.

Sun exposure for Quercus palustris: full sun. Soil conditions: moist; well-drained. Recorded habitats include floodplain woods; Upland flatwoods; Poorly drained sandy woods; Wooded acidic gravel seeps; Higher swamp ground. Reported height: 60-90 ft.

Leave room for the mature branches beside paths and nearby plantings. Growth habit: usually straight-trunked; young crowns are pyramidal and become more elongated or oval with age. Root structure: shallow, spreading woody lateral roots.

Plant specifications & ecological relationships

Key growing facts

Sunlight Full sun
Soil moisture Moist; well-drained
Height 60-90 ft
Bloom season Mid- to late spring

Native landscape companions

For full sun and moist soil, consider these native plants alongside Quercus palustris:

Companion plant Height
Black Gum or Tupelo or Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) 40-80 ft
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) 50-80 ft

These landscape suggestions combine overlapping growing needs with documented plant associations. Match soil, seasonal wetness and mature spread to your site. Remnant records are described separately under Plant communities & associates.

Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
Growth habit Usually straight-trunked; young crowns are pyramidal and become more elongated or oval with age
Root form Shallow, spreading woody lateral roots
Soil pH Prefers somewhat acidic soil
Cultivation hardiness zones Zones 4a–8b (general cultivation guidance)
Drought tolerance Low
Deer browsing Deer resistance reported in cultivation guidance; browsing remains possible.
Salt tolerance Low
Plant toxicity Poison characteristics are reported; listed parts: fruits, leaves. Pet safety is not established.

Plant identification & seed reference

Botanical name Quercus palustris
Other common names pin oak; Oaks; Pin Oak; Swamp Oak; Swamp Spanish Oak
Seed germination USDA lists cold stratification as required; duration is not specified.
Plant family Fagaceae
Seeds per pound — reference estimate 410

Plant characteristics

Quercus palustris (Pin Oak) is a member of the red oak group and thrives in medium to wet soils. This oak's fall red to reddish-orange color is magnificent when planted in the correct conditions.  Pink oak works well as a shade tree or a specimen tree.  Caution chlorosis (yellowing of leaves) is common in the commonly alkaline soils (pH above 7) and can severely damage this tree. Here is a link for further research on the subject of chlorosis. 

Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates

Illinois plant communities

These regional accounts place this plant and the plants below in the same type of natural community. A community list does not mean that every species grew together in one plot. Use the habitat and location to understand the relationship; it is not a planting recipe.

  • Sand flatwoods — Kankakee River sand deposits and Chicago Lake Plain, Illinois: Quercus alba, Nyssa sylvatica, Carex cumulata, Comptonia peregrina, Drosera intermedia, Polygonum careyi, Viola primulifolia. Pin oak occupies the wetter flatwoods; white oak and black gum are recorded on slightly raised ground. (pp. 266)

Other documented plant associations

These published associations show how this plant fits into natural vegetation. The region and community are identified for each list; moisture, shade and flooding can differ within a community.

Central hardwood forests; different stand types

Central part of the American hornbeam range

Other regional plant communities

These plants are named with this species in published vegetation accounts. Each list keeps its community and region; some records describe a shared vegetation type rather than neighboring plants in a measured plot. They are ecological records, not a planting recipe, and may include plants unsuitable for a particular garden.

  • Pin-oak and cherrybark-oak community (Mississippi River Valley, Illinois): Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia.
  • Bottomland forest types (Central and eastern North America): Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus alba, Ulmus americana, Acer rubrum.
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value

State nativity describes a broad range. Use the Chicago-region assessment for local context; a state listing does not establish county nativity.

Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest FACW
C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 5
Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 Yes
Native range — U.S. states Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Missouri; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; Tennessee; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin
County nativity Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity.
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife

Caterpillars & other plant-feeding insects

This plant has published caterpillar host records for the butterflies and moths listed below. These are larval feeding relationships, separate from adult nectar visits. The records span a North American literature compilation and do not establish that every insect occurs locally or uses only this plant.

Moths

  • Acleris semipurpurana — Oak Leaf Shredder, Oak Leaftier, Oak Leafshredder
  • Acronicta americana — American Dagger
  • Agnorisma badinodis — Pale-Banded Dart
  • Amphipyra pyramidoides — Miranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
  • Anisota peigleri — Peigler's Oakworm Moth
  • Anisota senatoria — Orange-Tipped Oakworm Moth, Orangestriped Oakworm
  • Archips fervidana — Oak Webworm Moth
  • Argyrotaenia quercifoliana — Yellow-Winged Oak Leafroller Moth, Lined Oak Leafroller
  • Arogalea cristifasciella — Stripe-Backed Moth, White Stripe-Backed Moth
  • Automeris io — Io Moth
  • Bucculatrix domicola
  • Bucculatrix trifasciella
  • Catocala amica — Girlfriend Underwing
  • Chionodes fuscomaculella — White-Spotted Chionodes
  • Coptotriche badiiella
  • Coptotriche citrinipennella — Oakleaf Edgeminer
  • Coptotriche clemensella
  • Eacles imperialis — Imperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
  • Ectoedemia similella — Broken-Banded Ectoedemia
  • Euzophera semifuneralis — American Plum Borer
  • Halysidota tessellaris — Banded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
  • Hemileuca grotei — Grote's Buck Moth
  • Hyalophora cecropia — Cecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
  • Isochaetes beutenmuelleri — Spun Glass Slug
  • Lacosoma chiridota — Scalloped Sack-Bearer
  • Lophocampa caryae — Hickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
  • Lytrosis unitaria — Common Lytrosis
  • Malacosoma disstria — Forest Tent Caterpillar
  • Paranthrene pellucida — Summer Oak Borer
  • Paranthrene simulans — Hornet Clearwing, Golden Oak Borer
  • Phigalia strigataria — Small Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
  • Pococera expandens — Striped Oak Webworm, Double-Humped Pococera
  • Psilocorsis quercicella — Oak Leaftier
  • Stigmella altella
  • Stigmella flavipedella
  • Stigmella quercipulchella
  • Trypanisma prudens
  • Xanthotype sospeta — Crocus Geometer

Leafhopper hosts

The INHS revision lists this plant as a host for the following Eratoneura leafhoppers. These plant-feeding insects are distinct from caterpillars and flower visitors.

  • Eratoneura delongi
  • Eratoneura gemoides
  • Eratoneura knullae
  • Eratoneura patris
  • Eratoneura richardsi
  • Eratoneura stannardi

Host names follow the 2010 taxonomic revision. Its distribution records do not establish a host observation at your planting site.

Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions

What are the ideal growing conditions for Pin Oak?
Light: Full sun. Soil moisture: Moist; well-drained.

How do I germinate and establish Pin Oak from seed?
USDA lists cold stratification as required; duration is not specified.

Is Pin Oak deer and herbivore resistant?
Deer resistance reported in cultivation guidance; browsing remains possible. Even plants described as resistant may be browsed. Use physical protection where deer damage is a concern.

When should I expect Pin Oak to bloom?
Typical flowering period: Mid- to late spring. Timing varies with location and weather.

Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes

Landscape companion selection: Natural Communities compared the growing requirements shown on these species pages with selected source records: Sand flatwoods — Kankakee River sand deposits and Chicago Lake Plain, Illinois; Bottomland forest types — Central and eastern North America. The shortlist is a planting-design inference. A shared record does not establish adjacency, identical soil requirements, local seed origin, or a tested planting combination. Regional synthesis records retain their documented focal-to-associate scope.

Illinois communities & local records: INHS: Illinois sand-area plant communities.

Native range & ecological ratings: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), via Universal FQA; USACE Chicago FQA (2017); Kew WCVP / Plants of the World Online; USACE National Wetland Plant List.

Growing conditions & other references: Illinois Wildflowers, John Hilty; USDA Forest Service: american hornbeam; USDA Forest Service: Quercus palustris; USDA NRCS PLANTS; USDA Forest Service: species review; Here is a link for further research on the subject of chlorosis.; NC State Extension Plant Toolbox.

Wildlife records: Shropshire & Tallamy: caterpillar hosts (2025); INHS: Eratoneura leafhopper host records.

Native range does not identify the origin of the seed or plants offered. Community and wildlife records apply to the locations and conditions described.

Research notes & credits

USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Retained for comparison; the displayed C-value follows Flora database 80.

Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.

Caterpillar host records: Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025), Lepidoptera of North America, Supplement 1. Contains information from this database made available under the Open Database License (ODbL 1.0). Natural Communities selected species-level records and screened source qualifications. The complete selection and transformation instructions for this page are available below under the same license.

Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin — Eratoneura paper. Dietrich, C.H. & Dmitriev, D.A. (2010), Review of the Species of New World Erythroneurini, IV. Genus Eratoneura. Copyright University of Illinois Board of Trustees. CC BY 4.0; selected host records summarized and reformatted. No endorsement implied. CC BY 4.0.

Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.

Detailed record links: Eratoneura delongi; Eratoneura gemoides; Eratoneura knullae; Eratoneura patris; Eratoneura richardsi; Eratoneura stannardi; Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin — Eratoneura paper.

Caterpillar research records

Plant: Quercus palustris

Record scope: Host literature synthesis; no county nativity or local insect occurrence inferred.

Shropshire & Tallamy (2025) · Original research dataset · Reuse license: ODbL-1.0

Plant names in the source Source insect record IDs
Quercus palustris 200141, 200282, 200509, 200728, 200931, 200933, 201286, 201457, 201532, 201682, 201937, 202009, 202391, 202743, 203466, 203468, 203469, 204360, 204390, 205865, 206607, 206794, 207034, 207408, 207549, 207899, 207995, 208112, 209406, 209408, 209903, 210272, 210711, 211799, 211817, 211840, 212643, 212820

How these records were selected

To reproduce this selection, use the “UDELep May 2025” worksheet in the original research dataset.

  1. Match the insect record IDs above to column A (UDLepID). Within each table row, pair every listed insect ID with every listed source plant name.
  2. Use the first two words in column H for the insect’s scientific name, column E for its common name, and column AB for its source category.
  3. Treat the selected pairs as reported caterpillar host records. Keep all other source fields unchanged and outside this selected table. Include no other rows or host pairs.
  4. Group butterflies and skippers together, and the other categories as moths. Retain the source’s exotic-category labels and sort display names by scientific insect name.

Growing guidance: Illinois Extension — Keeping deer out of the yard and garden. Selected facts in original wording. General deer advice is not a species resistance rating.

Plant Shipping & Care

We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.

As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.

 

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Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready

We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.

Wholesale Orders

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Retail & Website Orders

  • Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
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  • If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months. 
  • Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
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Where We Ship

 

 

        What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery

        • Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
        • We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.

         

           Shipments

          • Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.

           

           

          What to Do With Your Plants After  Receiving Your Delivery

          • Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
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          • Water your plants
          • Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
          • If you cannot install your plants immediately
            • Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
            • Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
            • Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
            • No additional fertilizer is needed
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