Shingle Oak
(Quercus imbricaria)
Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria)
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Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
CC BY-SA 4.0
Image By:
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: Kenraiz | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Quercus_imbricaria_kz02.jpg | Notes: pattypan 22.02 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Quercus imbricaria, commonly known as Shingle Oak, is a deciduous tree native to the central and eastern United States, particularly found in the Central and Mid-Atlantic regions. It is commonly found in a variety of habitats including mixed forests, forest edges, and along streams. Shingle Oak typically grows to a height of 50–60 feet (15–18 meters) with a broad pyramidal shape in its youth, transitioning to a broad-topped and open form in maturity. The trunk can reach up to 40 inches (1 meter) in diameter. Its leaves are distinctive among oaks, resembling those of laurels—broad with smooth margins, bright green on the upper surface, and paler with a somewhat downy texture beneath. The tree produces inconspicuous flowers in May when the leaves are half-grown, and its acorns, which are almost spherical and 9–18 millimeters long, mature in the autumn of the second year after pollination.
Shingle Oak is valued for its adaptability to urban environments, its dense canopy that provides significant shade, and its ability to support wildlife with its acorns. It is often used in residential and public landscapes, and due to its tolerance of different soil types, it is suitable for a variety of planting sites. While it prefers full sun, it can also tolerate partial shade. It requires medium amounts of water and well-drained soils. However, gardeners should be aware that the acorns can be messy and that the tree may be susceptible to typical oak pests and diseases.CC BY-SA 4.0
Shingle Oak is valued for its adaptability to urban environments, its dense canopy that provides significant shade, and its ability to support wildlife with its acorns. It is often used in residential and public landscapes, and due to its tolerance of different soil types, it is suitable for a variety of planting sites. While it prefers full sun, it can also tolerate partial shade. It requires medium amounts of water and well-drained soils. However, gardeners should be aware that the acorns can be messy and that the tree may be susceptible to typical oak pests and diseases.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Tree
- Height: 40-60 feet
- Width: 40-60 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Mixed forests, forest edges, and along streams
Other Names
Common Names: Laurel Oak
Scientific Names: Quercus imbricaria , Quercus latifolia , Erythrobalanus imbricaria , Quercus aprica , Quercus imbricaria var. inaequalifolia , Quercus imbricaria var. spinulosa , Quercus phellos var. imbricaria , Quercus sonchifolia
GBIF Accepted Name: Quercus imbricaria Michx.