Scientific Name
Quercus montana
Chestnut oak is native to the states centered on the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. It is a slow-growing tree that can live for as long as 400 years. As a member of the white oak group, it produces relatively sweet acorns that mature in a single growing season. Its leaves are a bit difficult to distinguish from those of swamp white oak, but they generally have smaller and more numerous teeth and show much less difference in color between the upper and lower surfaces. The buds also differ: chestnut oak has fairly long, pointed buds, compared with the shorter, more rounded buds of swamp white oak. Finally, the acorns grow on short stalks rather than the long, slender ones of swamp white oak.
Although the marginal teeth of the leaves are not sharp or bristle-tipped, their overall appearance somewhat resembles the true chestnut foliage of the different (though closely related) Castanea genus. This similarity may have given rise to this tree’s common name, though its native range also closely coincides with that of the American chestnut. Speaking of nomenclature, the botanical name of this species was changed not long ago from Quercus prinus, but the older name still appears on some arboretum tags and in plant catalogs.
Compared to other oaks with similar leaves, the bark of chestnut oak becomes very dark as the tree matures. In urban settings, the tree is drought-resistant once established and grows well in most soils unless they are highly alkaline. It typically reaches about 65 feet in height and develops the rugged, spreading silhouette characteristic of many oaks. In fall it often shows good yellow-orange coloration. Like shingle oak, chestnut oak is still relatively uncommon in Colorado. The current state champion in Boulder has reached 68 feet in height.