Quercus michauxii: Uses (Ethnobotany)
The wood is used in many kinds of construction; for agricultural implements, wheels, veneer, boards, fence posts, tight cooperage, baskets and fuel. It has commercial uses as fencepost and furniture, as well.
Plant Profile: Quercus michauxii
Taxonomy: Quercus michauxiiNames
Basket Oak, Chestnut Oak, Cow Oak, Michaux Oak, Oaks, Swamp Chestnut Oak
Phonetic Spelling:KWER-kus miss-SHOW-ee-eye
Genus:Quercus
Species:michauxii
Family:Fagaceae
The Swamp Chestnut Oak is a native deciduous tree that typically reaches heights of 60 to 80 feet. It features a dense, rounded crown with an irregular spread. This species thrives in the swampy regions and low woodlands of the southeastern coastal plain and the Mississippi River valley. It prefers moist, well-drained, acidic sandy to silty clay loams and flourishes in full sun to partial shade, demonstrating a tolerance for wet soils and occasional flooding.
This tree is well-suited to urban environments, making it an excellent choice for providing shade in larger yards or parks. Like many native oaks, it serves as a valuable resource for wildlife.
Regarding fire safety, the Swamp Chestnut Oak has a low flammability rating.
In terms of pests and diseases, oaks are generally vulnerable to a variety of issues, such as chestnut blight, shoestring root rot, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, cankers, leaf spots, and powdery mildew. However, this particular tree is resistant to oak wilt. Potential insect threats include scale, oak skeletonizers, leaf miners, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars, and nut weevils.
Quercus michauxii Feature Summary
Quercus michauxii Image Gallery
Tags
#showy flowers
#deciduous
#fall color
#shade tree
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#wildlife plant
#partial sun
#native tree
#moths
#tree
#spring flowers
#ducks
#flowering tree
#low lying area
#stream banks
#moist soil
#food source
#NC native
#well-drained soil
#black bears
#deer resistant
#woodpeckers
#blue jays
#acorns
#nighttime garden
#fire resistant
#mountains
#oak tree
#spring interest
#Braham Arboretum
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#pond edge
#food source herbage
#Coastal FACW
#Piedmont Mountains FACW
#rocky soils tolerant
#fruits
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#mammals
#butterfly friendly
#butterfly larvae
#moth larvae
#fruits early fall
#partial shade tolerant
#larval host tree
#pollinator garden
#problem for horses
#audubon
#banded hairstreak butterfly
#gray hairstreak butterfly
#imperial moth
#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly
#edward’s hairstreak butterfly
#white-m hairstreak butterfly
#horace’s duskywing butterfly
Similar Plants
Quercus michauxii is often confused with:
Quercus michauxii Feature Summary
Attributes
The wood is used in many kinds of construction; for agricultural implements, wheels, veneer, boards, fence posts, tight cooperage, baskets and fuel. It has commercial uses as fencepost and furniture, as well.
Eastern United States
Found along the eastern United States, far north as Maine, south into northern Florida and west into Texas.
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, rough grouse, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and black bears.
Acorns are edible.
Woody
Wildlife Food Source
Shade
Wildlife Nesting
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Larval Host
medium flammability
Fruit
Acorns are 1 to 1.5 inches long, sessile, and are usually produced singly or in clusters of 2 or 3. 1/3 to 1/2 is covered by a hairy, grey to brown scaly cup. These acorns are sweet-tasting and can be eaten from the tree unlike other acorns. Acorns are typically not produced until the tree reaches 20-25 years old. In North Carolina, the acorns are available from September to October.
Nut
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Edible
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
Male pollen flowers in slender yellow catkins to 2-4" long and female flowers in very short few-flowered reddish spikes. Both grow on the same tree (monoecious). In North Carolina, flowers are available in April.
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Insignificant
Catkin
Spring
1-3 inches
Leaves
Up to 9 inch long oval simple leaves which are shiny green above and grey-green pubescent on the undersides. Margins are wavy with rounded teeth that are also sometimes described as small lobes. Orange-yellow to yellow-brown to dark red fall color.
Deciduous
Green
Gray/Silver
Gold/Yellow
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Obovate
Lobed
Crenate
Sinuate
> 6 inches
Smooth
Velvety
3-6 inches
Bark
The bark is light gray with deep v-shaped furrows producing broad, flaky ridges.
Light Gray
Red/Burgundy
Ridges
Furrowed
Peeling
Irregular
Stem
New growth is green, progressing to brown during the first winter and turning gray during the second year.
Brown/Copper
Green
Red/Burgundy
Gray/Silver
Poisonous to Humans
Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
Seeds
Leaves
Whole Plant Traits
Edible
Tree
Native Plant
Poisonous
Deciduous
Rounded
Pyramidal
Dense
Open
Oval
Medium
Low
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasional Flooding
more than 60 feet
24-60 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Edible Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Nighttime Garden
Native Garden
Shade Garden
Shade Tree
Specimen
Deer
Wet Soil
Erosion
Fire
Woodland
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Pond
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Small Mammals
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Horses
Quercus michauxii Image Gallery
Quercus michauxii Attributes
Quercus michauxii: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern United States
Quercus michauxii: Distribution
Found along the eastern United States, far north as Maine, south into northern Florida and west into Texas.
Quercus michauxii: Wildlife Value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, rough grouse, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and black bears.
Quercus michauxii: Edibility
Acorns are edible.
Quercus michauxii: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Quercus michauxii: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Quercus michauxii: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Quercus michauxii: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Quercus michauxii Fruit
Quercus michauxii: Fruit Description
Acorns are 1 to 1.5 inches long, sessile, and are usually produced singly or in clusters of 2 or 3. 1/3 to 1/2 is covered by a hairy, grey to brown scaly cup. These acorns are sweet-tasting and can be eaten from the tree unlike other acorns. Acorns are typically not produced until the tree reaches 20-25 years old. In North Carolina, the acorns are available from September to October.
Quercus michauxii: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Quercus michauxii: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Quercus michauxii: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Quercus michauxii: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Quercus michauxii: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Quercus michauxii: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Quercus michauxii Flowers
Quercus michauxii: Flower Description
Male pollen flowers in slender yellow catkins to 2-4" long and female flowers in very short few-flowered reddish spikes. Both grow on the same tree (monoecious). In North Carolina, flowers are available in April.
Quercus michauxii: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Quercus michauxii: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Quercus michauxii: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Quercus michauxii: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Quercus michauxii Leaves
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Description
Up to 9 inch long oval simple leaves which are shiny green above and grey-green pubescent on the undersides. Margins are wavy with rounded teeth that are also sometimes described as small lobes. Orange-yellow to yellow-brown to dark red fall color.
Quercus michauxii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Gray/Silver
Green
Quercus michauxii: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Quercus michauxii: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Quercus michauxii: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Quercus michauxii Bark
Quercus michauxii: Bark Description
The bark is light gray with deep v-shaped furrows producing broad, flaky ridges.
Quercus michauxii: Bark Color
Light Gray
Red/Burgundy
Quercus michauxii: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Quercus michauxii: Bark Plate Shape
Diamond
Irregular
Oval
Rectangle
Round
Square
Quercus michauxii Stem
Quercus michauxii: Stem Description
New growth is green, progressing to brown during the first winter and turning gray during the second year.
Quercus michauxii: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Green
Red/Burgundy
Quercus michauxii: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Quercus michauxii Poisonous to Humans
Quercus michauxii: Poison Symptoms
Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
Quercus michauxii: Poison Toxic Principle
Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
Quercus michauxii: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Quercus michauxii: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Quercus michauxii: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Quercus michauxii Whole Plant Traits
Quercus michauxii: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Quercus michauxii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Quercus michauxii: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Quercus michauxii: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Quercus michauxii: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Quercus michauxii: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Quercus michauxii Cultural Conditions
Quercus michauxii: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Quercus michauxii: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Quercus michauxii: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Quercus michauxii: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Quercus michauxii: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Quercus michauxii: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Quercus michauxii: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Quercus michauxii Landscape
Quercus michauxii: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Quercus michauxii: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Quercus michauxii: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Quercus michauxii: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Quercus michauxii: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Quercus michauxii: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
