365 Urban Species. #304: Pin Oak

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Photos by cottonmanifesto. A young pin oak along the street in Olmsted Park shows its scarlet fall color.

Urban species #304: Pin oak Quercus palustris

Pin oak is the most common urban oak tree in many places, including the city of Seattle, and New York's Central Park. It is tolerant to pollution, and prefers acid soil--a condition almost guaranteed in the northeastern cities. It is a member of the red oak group, along with northern red oak, but can be distinguished by its glossier leaves with deeper sinuses (spaces between the pointed lobes). It can be told from other red oaks by the short twigs along the branches; the pins for which it is named. Pin oak is chosen for urban plantings because of its survivability, and its beauty. In fall its foliage ranges from reddish brown to livid scarlet, and it holds its leaves longer than many other trees.





The "pins" are visible along the horizontal branch seen here.