English oak vs Pin oak

English oak and Pin oak are often considered for the same spot in the garden (shade, specimen). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

English oak

Quercus robur 7 m × 5 m after 10 years

A native tree that lives for centuries and grows huge, with a broad, rounded crown and lobed leaves; it is home to a great many insects and birds.…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 4.20

Pin oak

Quercus palustris 7 m × 4 m after 10 years

A fast-growing oak with a regular conical crown and glossy, deeply cut leaves that turn bright red in autumn. It tolerates wet and occasionally…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

Key differences

Pin oak grows faster than English oak.
Pin oak copes better with summer heat than English oak.
English oak also takes chalky soil, Pin oak prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk.

Which one to choose?

English oak is the better choice if the soil is chalky.

Pin oak is the better choice if you want quick results or the spot is hot and sunny.

Watch out for

English oak

Since the 2010s the oak lace bug, introduced from North America, has caused mass damage in Central Europe: leaves fade and yellow by midsummer and drop early, and the insects may swarm over house walls and terraces; there is no effective control yet. The stinging hairs of oak processionary moth caterpillars cause severe skin rashes and breathing problems, and nests should be removed by professionals only. Powdery mildew is common on young shoots. Old trees suffer from falling groundwater levels and prolonged drought and may die back.

Pin oak

Most garden soils in Central Europe are calcareous and alkaline, and pin oak cannot cope with that: it cannot take up iron, the leaves turn yellow between the veins and later brown (iron chlorosis), within a few years branches die back and the tree may even be lost. Iron chelate treatments help only temporarily, and calcareous soil under a tree this size cannot be acidified for good. Test the soil pH before planting and choose another tree if it is above 7. On acidic to neutral, moist soil it has few problems and is rarely hit by the usual oak diseases. The lower branches sweep downwards and need removing beside a path or driveway.

The data side by side

Feature	English oak	Pin oak
Group	Large tree	Large tree
Size after 10 years	7 m × 5 m (uncertain)	7 m × 4 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	20–35 m × 15–30 m	15–25 m × 12–18 m
Growth rate	Medium	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium	High
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, yellow, green	April–May, yellow, green
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	1500 cm	1000 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	no data
For children	Mildly toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	about PLN 4.20 (< 40 cm)	no data

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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