Pin oak
Quercus palustris
A fast, tidy oak for damp ground; leaves yellow in alkaline soil, so it wants acid soil.
Hardiness: zones 4 to 8
Light: full sun
Size: about 70 ft tall, 40 ft wide
From: E. North America
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: wildlife, butterfly and moth caterpillars.
Native to: Northeast, Midwest & Great Lakes, Southeast, Great Plains & Texas, Eastern Canada. Hardy in zones 4 to 8.
The story
Native to Ohio and the eastern US. Pin oak grows wild in wet bottomlands and swamp forests, which is why it is called palustris, "of the marsh". Pin oak is in the red oak group: its acorns take two summers to ripen. Oaks support more caterpillar species than any other North American tree.
Planting
Full sun. Soil: wet clay is fine; needs acidic soil (pH 5.0–6.5). Pollination: wind.
Growing
Water: deep, natural rainfall. Winter: Never prune oaks between April and July: that's when oak wilt spreads. Prune only in winter if needed. Spring: Keep the soil under the canopy natural: leaves, not lawn. Summer: Don't pile soil or mulch against the trunk. Fall: Leave the leaves underneath; they shelter moth pupae and bumblebee queens.
Harvest and use
Harvest: Acorns Sep–Oct. First crop: acorns from about age 20.
What to watch for
Oak wilt (prune only in winter), iron chlorosis (yellow leaves) in alkaline soil, root damage from digging.
See if Pin oak fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home