Oak, Chinkapin | Arboretum | SIU

This tree is one of the 150 trees initially included in the arboretum to coincide with the campus's 150th anniversary celebration.

Scientific Name:
Quercus mulenburgii

Cultivar:

Native to:
Vermont to Virginia, west to Nebraska, Mexico, and Texas

Mature Height and Width:
40-50 feet by 40-60 feet, can reach 80 feet high

Additional Notes:
Perhaps no other tree species has been so drastically displaced by the massive clearing of agricultural land within the once wooded portions of the Midwest.  The strong, spreading crown of the Chinkapin oak and light bark remains a hallmark of wooded pastures and parks across our region.  Although not necessary for its success, this species is especially well adapted to limestone-derived soils.

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