Dwarf Chinquapin Oak is a native deciduous oak tree in the Fagaceae family that can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. It is found in sunny sites, often in rocky or acid sandy soils on dry plains, rocky bluffs, ridges and woodland edges. It is easily adaptable to garden loams for the home landscape and tolerates poor, dry soils. It has a deep taproot and is difficult to transplant. The male and female flowers bloom in spring and produce acorns in fall. Unlike many oaks, this tree produces acorns in 3-5 years and has a good crop each year that wildlife love. Use in an open woodland setting, small groupings for wildlife, or as a shade or specimen tree for smaller yards. It can be used in areas with poor, dry soils to help with erosion. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth ( Eacles imperialis ) , as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak ( Satyrium calanus ) , Edward's hairstreak ( Satyrium edwardsii ) , Gray hairstreak ( Strymon melinus ) , White-m hairstreak ( Parrhasius malbum ) , Horace's duskywing ( Erynnis horatius ) , and Juvenalis duskywing ( Erynnis juvenalis ) .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Open; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Lobed; Serrate; Undulate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The oval yellow-green leaves are 2-5 inches long and 1-2.5 inches wide. The undersides are grayish-green to white with fine hairs. The margins can be wavy, toothed or shallowly lobed.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Insignificant
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
The yellow-green male flowers occur in 1-2.5 inch long catkins. The inconspicuous female flowers are solitary or in groups of 2-3 at the ends of branches. Blooming occurs in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The oval smooth brown acorns are 1/2 to 3/4 inch long with a tan cap that is warty and extends to 1/3 of the nut. Mature acorns are nearly black.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
The bark is predominately gray, rough-textured, scaly, and irregularly fissured.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Young twigs are brown with scattered lenticels and are glabrous or slightly pubescent.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , ON , QC
Wildlife value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Acorns are a primary food for many bird species, including Wood Ducks, Ruffed Grouse, Quail, Wild Turkey, Grackles, Jays, Nuthatches, Thrashers, Titmice, Towhees, and Woodpeckers. Also eaten by Bears, Raccoons, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Deer, and Peccary.
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals
Play value
Wildlife Cover/Habitat; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Nighttime Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden