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Native Plant Society of Texas

Chinkapin Oak

Quercus muehlenbergii

Other common name(s):

Chinquapin Oak

Family:

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Low Mountains and Bajadas
Grand Prairie
Balcones Canyonlands
Semiarid Edwards Bajada
Northern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

45
to
110
ft.

Spread

50
to
70
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Rocky, Limestone, Calcareous, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow, Green, Brown

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Nuts, Nectar, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Hummingbirds

Maintenance

It has a moderate rate when young but slows considerably with age, It is In the white oak group and therefore less susceptible to oak wilt. Although if in a large stand of Chinkapin, the disease can spread through the roots. Needs deeper soils. Prune for shape or to raise canopy. Produces attractive fall color. Native habitat: mixed deciduous and pine forests. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms March-May. Mature trees develop a rounded canopy. A stately form with light gray platy or scaly bark. Leaves up to 8 inches long, with sharply toothed margins. Tiny flowers arranged on a catkin. The fruit is an acorn. Larval host: Gray Hairstreak.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Quercus acuminata, Quercus alexanderi, Quercus prinoides, Quercus prinoides var. acuminata

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 342. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUMU. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Quercus+muehlenbergii&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=12141&locationType=County&mapType=Normal., 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014. 8) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=504714#null, 9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_muehlenbergii 10 https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/QUEMUEA.pdf

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment The best time to plant acorns is immediately after they fall in autumn. Plant the acorns sideways, 3/4 to 1 inch deep, in pots deep enough to accommodate long taproot or directly in their permanent location. Give them at least 1 inch of water weekly if it doesn’t rain. Cover the soil with 2 to 3 inches of mulch or straw to help suppress weeds and protect the seedlings against frost heave. The acorns will soon start germinating; growth will stop during cold weather and restart in the spring. Be careful when pulling weeds so you don’t uproot the tender seed Chinkapin oaks are cold-hardy trees that can tolerate freezing temperatures. Protect young saplings growing outside in containers or newly transplanted outdoors with a layer of mulch or straw over the root zone. A radicle is produced in the fall soon after planting. Top growth is initiated the following spring. Length of Establishment Phase: 4-6months which includes the overwintering period. Active Growth Phase: Plants require little maintenance during active growth other than application of at least 1 inch of water per week during drouth conditions and elimination of weed competition. Collect seeds immediately after they drop. Place them in a bowl of cold water; viable seeds will sink to the bottom, while those with low viability will float. Discard those and plant the viable acorns immediately to achieve optimum germination rate. If you store the acorns over the winter, the germination rate can drop from over 90% to less than 50%. 1) https://www.thespruce.com/chinkapin-oak-growing-guide-5202085#:~:text=Propagating%20Chinkapin%20Oak,t%20uproot%20the%20tender%20seedlings. 2) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/wvpmcot12017.pdf

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason