{"slug":"quercus-muehlenbergii","scientific_name":"Quercus muehlenbergii","common_names":["Chinkapin oak","Chinquapin oak","Yellow chestnut oak"],"family":"Fagaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":18,"mature_spread_m":12,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":[3,8],"sun":"full","water":"low","soil":"Limestone and other alkaline, well-drained soils; rocky or sandy sites are fine; prefers deep soil to reach full size","native_range":"Eastern and central North America from Ontario to northeastern Mexico, across central Texas and into the Trans-Pecos","description":"A stately white oak with coarsely toothed, chestnut-like leaves that turn yellow in fall. It is one of the few large oaks that prefers lime soils, which makes it a natural fit for Central Texas, and it is resistant to oak wilt and relatively pest-free. Grows 40-70 feet tall with a rounded crown.","care":"Plant in deep soil with room to spread. Water weekly the first two summers; afterward it is quite drought tolerant. Prune to shape or raise the canopy as needed; oak wilt resistance means timing is less critical than for red oaks. Acorns drop every year and feed wildlife.","benefits":["shade","fall_color","wildlife","birds","drought_tolerant","long_lived"],"uses":["street_tree","yard_shade","parks"],"cautions":["large_roots"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/2494-Quercus_muehlenbergii-Arb.Brno-8.12.JPG","image_credit":"Vojtěch Zavadil, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU","https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUMU","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-muehlenbergii/","https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/oak-chinquapin","https://www.treefolks.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NeighborWoodsTreeMenu-2026.pdf"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-muehlenbergii","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-muehlenbergii.md","regions":[{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Also native in: CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, VT, WI, WV (USDA PLANTS distribution)","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"AL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"AR","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"FL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"LA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"MS","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"NC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"NM","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"OK","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"SC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"TN","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMU"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"San Jose","status":"recommended","note":"On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species list","source_url":"https://www.ourcityforest.org/nursery-species"},{"country":"US","region":"CO","locality":"Denver","status":"recommended","note":"On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/747/documents/forestry/Street_tree_guide.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"DC","locality":"Washington","status":"recommended","note":"On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list","source_url":"https://caseytrees.org/rebate"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Austin","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Austin Grow Green native and adapted plant list (Watershed Protection). Listed as 'Oak, Chinquapin'; low water needs, provide deep soil.","source_url":"https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/oak-chinquapin"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Dallas","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List","source_url":"https://dallas.gov/departments/sustainabledevelopment/buildinginspection/DCH%20documents/pdf/BI_Approved%20Tree%20List.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Houston","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/StreetTree_files/StreetTree.xlsx"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}