Quercus montanaIndiana Native
Chestnut Oak

Previously known as: Quercus prinus

Family:

Fagaceae (Beech Family) 46

Genus:

Quercus (Oak) 33

Plant Type:

Tree 569

Growth Forms:

Upright 571

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 4 515

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 836

Flower Notes:

Yellowish-green (Female flowers appear in single spikes in the spring; Male flowers borne in naked catkins (2-4" long) in the spring; Not ornamentally important)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Summer); Yellow (Orange-yellow to yellow-brown fall color, occasionally with a hint of red)

Stem Notes:

Brown (Lustrous brown stems dotted with small gray lenticels; Stout, glabrous, somewhat angled)

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Rich dark brown acorns in September to October)

Ultimate Height:

60-70 feet

Ultimate Spread:

60-70 feet

Bloom Times:

April 183

Fruiting Times:

October 129

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Dry to medium 47

Soil Notes:

Widely adapted to a range of soil types, including poor dry soils; Dislikes poor drainage

Range:

Appalachian region of the United States

Maintenance:

Low 264

Diagnostic Characteristics:

The leaf width is greatest in the middle; the upper leaf surface is glabrous, the lower surface may be pubescent. Leaves have 10-14 regular, rounded teeth. Buds are red-brown, imbricate, and covered in a fine pubescence. Fruit is a 1-1.3" acorn that occurs singly or in pairs; it is sweet tasting and particularly relished by wildlife. The corky bark is deeply ridged, brown to black, and where it separates, a bright orange color is present. Compared to Q. muehlenbergii, the leaf margins of Q. montana have much more rounded teeth, and the bark is much darker brown to black.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Insignificant Flowering 16

Additional Information

Naturally grows in rocky places and poor, dry sites. Dislikes poor drainage. Bark has the highest tannin content of any Quercus species.

Plant Photo Gallery

Overall Habit

Foliage

Bark

Emerging Foliage

Buds

Winter Habit

Flowers

When Quercus montana has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Fruiting

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

18 Quercus montana found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	2009_13624*A	HORTPARK
2	ORIG_0070*A	MRPK
3	2018_01160*A	WTHR
4	2021_00040*B	FST
5	2021_00040*C	FST
6	2021_00040*E	FST
7	2021_00040*D	FST
8	2023_00172*A	FSTW
9	2023_00239*A	PICK
10	2023_00239*B	PICK
11	2023_00316*A	PICK
12	2023_00316*B	PICK
13	2023_00316*C	PICK
14	2020_01160*A	HORTPARK
15	2020_01160*B	HORTPARK
16	2020_01160*C	HORTPARK
17	2023_00556*A	HORTPARK
18	2020_01160*D	HORTPARK