FNPS Plant Database

Quercus muehlenbergii

chinquapin oak

Nomenclature

Common Name:

chinquapin oak

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Quercus muehlenbergii

Family:

Fagaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

40-60 (70) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree.

Considerations:

Fallen/falling acorns can be a maintenance issue.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Calcareous but adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Mammals

Larval host for the white-M hairstreak ( Parrhasius m-album ).



  • Acorns appreciated by squirrels, deer, turkey and other wildlife


  • Used by birds for resting and nesting


  • Larval host for gray hairstreak butterfly


Native Habitats:

Mesic calcareous hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Acorns (nuts) are said to be edible after tannins are leached or boiled out. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center gives a recipe

General Comments:

The range of this species barely makes it into north Florida but extends north to southern Canada.

Citations:

Burns, Russell M.; Honkala, Barbara H.; [Technical coordinators] 1990. Silvics of North America: Volume 2. Hardwoods. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 654 ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/1548 ). 



Huegel, Craig, N.  2010.  Native plant landscaping for Florida wildlife.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL. (wildlife uses)



Minno, Marc and Maria Minno.  1999.  Florida butterfly gardening.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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