Quercus michauxii aka Swamp Chestnut Oak

Quercus michauxii is a deciduous tree in the beech family. Its common names include swamp chestnut oak and basket oak. It belongs to the white oak group. Its native range covers the central and eastern United States. It grows in low woods, floodplains, and along streams. The range runs from New Jersey to Florida and Texas. It also reaches north through the Mississippi River valley.

Garden trees often reach 40–60 feet [12–18 metres] tall. Some accounts give 60–80 feet [18–24 metres]. Rare trees reach 100 feet [30 metres]. The spread can reach 50 feet [15 metres]. The dense crown has a rounded shape and uneven spread. Light gray bark forms deep grooves and broad, flaky ridges. New shoots turn from green to brown, then gray. The large, oval leaves grow in an alternate pattern. Their upper sides shine green; fine hairs cover the gray-green undersides. Rounded teeth line the leaf edges. Fall leaves turn yellow, brown, orange, or dark red.

Male and female flowers grow on the same tree. The males form thin yellow catkins. The females grow in short, reddish clusters. Flowers appear in April in North Carolina. Chicago records place bloom across March through June. The brown acorns grow alone or in small groups. Hairy, scaly cups cover one-third to half of each nut. North Carolina trees bear ripe nuts in September and October. Trees may take 20–25 years to begin bearing acorns. NC State describes the acorns as sweet and edible. It also warns that acorns can block the gut. Leaves contain toxic compounds, though the listed poison risk is low.

Give this oak full sun for best growth. It also tolerates some shade, but not deep shade. It prefers moist, acidic soil with good drainage. Loam suits it, and sandy soil also supports growth. It tolerates wet ground and brief floods. Hardiness reports span USDA zones 4–9, with some regional differences. Growth is moderate, and routine care needs are low.

This large oak gives shade in parks and spacious yards. Low ground offers a useful place to plant it. Its leaves feed moth and butterfly larvae. People use its wood for furniture, baskets, posts, and construction. Serious pest or disease trouble is not usual. Possible problems include root rot, leaf spots, cankers, and mildew. Scale, borers, leaf miners, and nut weevils may attack it.