What soil does Pin oak grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, acidic.

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Pin oak be planted?

Plant it at least 12.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 3 m from paving.

When does Pin oak flower?

Flowering: April–May, yellow, green.

How much water does Pin oak need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Pin oak

Quercus palustris

Pin oak (Quercus palustris) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium.

Illustration of Pin oak — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

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 waterlogged ground but needs acidic soil: on lime the leaves turn yellow and the tree struggles, so plant it only if your soil is not calcareous. It is a shade tree for a large garden, and a columnar form is sold for tighter spaces.

Watch out for

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.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 7 m × 4 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, yellow, green

All details

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	7 m × 4 m
Ultimate size	15–25 m × 12–18 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, yellow, green
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Medium
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 12.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 3 m
Litter	Fruit, Leaves
Planting distance	1000 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	no data
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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