Scientific Name
Quercus michauxii
Swamp chestnut oak is quite similar to chestnut oak but differs in its bark as it matures. It becomes thinner, paler and somewhat scaly, whereas chestnut oak develops thicker bark with deep ridges and furrows. The leaves are widest toward the tip, with edges that are more smoothly scalloped than distinctly lobed.
This species is native primarily to the southern United States but extends north into Indiana, Illinois and New Jersey. That range suggests it can tolerate colder climates, and the two trees at Regis, planted as saplings in 2018, have handled local winters without issue. As a member of the white oak group, it produces acorns that mature in a single season and are relatively low in tannins, making them sweeter than those of red oaks.
Swamp chestnut oak may reach 40 feet or more in height, though its long-term performance here is still uncertain since it remains uncommon in the region. So far, both young trees have shown the strong red fall color for which the species is known.