Dwarf Chinkapin Oak
Arbor Walk #156, TreeKeeper ID #7173
The Dwarf Chinkapin Oak is a small but wonderful oak species that excels for landscaping and natural settings alike. This species is most common naturally in the upper Appalachians (Pennsylvania, New York, and New England) and the eastern edge of the Great Plains (around Kansas City). That being said, this species can thrive in any dry, acidic soils, as well as normal garden soils. Because of its short height, this tree can be used in ways larger oaks cannot, but this species still provides wildlife with plentiful acorns and hosts a variety of insect species.
The Dwarf Chinkapin Oak is a member of the subgenus of white oaks. These oaks are distinguishable from other oaks from their smooth lobe tips (no awns), their hairless leaf undersides, and their lighter, flakier bark. The acorns of white oaks are also less tannic, meaning that they require less processing to become safe and palatable.
| Common Name(s) | Dwarf Chinkapin Oak |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Quercus prinoides |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
Map coming soon
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
Leaf Identification
The leaves of the Dwarf Chinkapin Oak are simple, unlobed, pinnately veined, and alternately arranged on the stem.
Twig and Bud Identification
The twigs of the Dwarf Chinkapin Oak turn from bronze-colored to light gray upon maturity, and are not zig zag. They have pale lenticels and circular branch scars. The buds are chestnut brown and ovoid, with many imbricate scales. The terminal buds are in clusters of three and are larger than the axillary buds.
Bark Identification
The bark is dark gray and smooth when young, with pale, notch-like horizontal lenticels. Near the base, plates begin to form that will develop shaggy (although not often peeling) vertical scales.
Fruit Identification
The fruit of the Dwarf Chinkapin Oak is an acorn. The acorns, like many in the white oak subfamily, are covered in a warty cap, here reaching about one-third down the nut. The nut turns a deep brown with maturity and has an ovoid shape.
Flower Identification
Like all oaks, the Dwarf Chinkapin Oak is monoecious with both male catkins (long, slender cluster of inconspicuous flowers) and tiny female flowers in small spikes at leaf axils.
ID Key Tips
- The Dwarf Chinkapin Oak, as its name suggests, is much smaller in tree size and slightly smaller in leaf size than the Chinkapin Oak. The leaves of the Chinkapin Oak also contain more lobes than the Dwarf Chinkapin Oak does.
