Quercus michauxiiIndiana Native
Swamp Chestnut Oak

Family:

Fagaceae (Beech Family) 45

Genus:

Quercus (Oak) 32

Plant Type:

Tree 562

Growth Forms:

Upright 552

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 5 241

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 815

Flower Notes:

Yellow;red (Male catkins 2-4" long; April to May; not ornamentally importantt;Female spikes; April to May; not ornamentally important)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Lustrous, dark yellowish-green summer foliage); Red (Attractive red fall foliage)

Stem Notes:

green to brown to gray

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Acorns are sweet and can be eaten fresh by humans, wildlife, and livestock)

Ultimate Height:

60-70 feet

Ultimate Spread:

60-70 feet

Bloom Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium to wet 44

Soil Notes:

Prefers acidic, moist loamy soils, but can tolerate sandy or wet soils

Range:

Eastern United States

Maintenance:

Low 210

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Very similar to Q. montana, except the involucral scales form a fringe around the rim and the leaves are generally more leather-textured and more pubescent on the underside. The leaf width is greatest in the middle; the upper leaf surface is glabrous, the lower surface generally pubescent. Leaf margins have 10-14 regular, rounded teeth. Buds are red-brown, imbricate, and covered in a fine pubescence. The edible fruit is a 1" acorn that is one third to halfway covered in hairy scales. The very dark colored bark is scaly when young and ridged on older trees.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Wet Soil Tolerant 106

Additional Information

Similar to Quercus montana but obtains a larger ultimate size and is found in moister soils. Common in low areas, river bottoms, swamp borders and ravines. It gained its common name of "Basket Oak" from the baskets created from its wood, and the common name "Cow Oak" from the sweet, edible acorns relished by cows.

Plant Photo Gallery

Overall Habit

Leaf

Bark

Fall Color

Buds

Bark and Old Foliage

Winter Habit

Spring Habit

Emerging Leaves and Bark

Flowers

21 Quercus michauxii found

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	ORIG_8245*A	SCPA
2	ORIG_8424*A	CARY
3	ORIG_8580*A	MEMMALL
4	ORIG_8295*A	PVA
5	ORIG_8423*A	CARY
6	ORIG_8668*A	PMU
7	ORIG_8419*A	CARY
8	ORIG_8243*A	SCPA
9	ORIG_8291*A	PVA
10	ORIG_8460*A	MTHW
11	ORIG_8254*A	ROGA
12	ORIG_8220*A	MCUT
13	ORIG_9102*A	SCPA
14	ORIG_8292*A	PVA
15	ORIG_7943*A	PFSB
16	2009_13403*A	HORTPARK
17	2024_00034*A	HORTPARK
18	2024_00034*B	HORTPARK
19	2024_00034*C	HORTPARK
20	2024_00034*D	HORTPARK
21	2024_00089*A	HORTPARK