The Shingle Oak
is a stately deciduous oak tree that is native to the Midwestern and eastern
United States. It is very unusual in that it has leaves that are very unlike
the leaves of most temperate American oak trees. The leaves are elliptic or oblong,
unlobed and with smooth margins. They much more resemble the leaves of a tropical
evergreen tree, rather than the lobed leaves of a cold-hardy oak tree. There
are southern and southwestern oaks that have smaller, unlobed leaves but none of
them match the shingle oak for the large size of its leaves and the lush, luxuriant
appearance of its foliage. It is a medium sized deciduous oak of the red oak
group that typically grows in a conical form to 40-60’ tall, with the crown
broadening and rounding with age. Trunk diameter to 3’. Brownish gray bark
develops shallow furrowing and ridging with age. Shingle oak is native
primarily from Pennsylvania to Iowa and Arkansas. It is particularly common in
the Ohio River Valley. It occurs in a variety of locations including upland dry
woods, prairie margins, slopes, ravines, stream margins and bottomlands. Fruits
are rounded acorns (to 3/4” long), with scaly cups that extend to approximately
1/3 the acorn length. Acorns are an important source of food for wildlife.
Narrow, oblong, smooth-margined, glossy dark green leaves (3-6” long and 1-2”
wide) are pale and pubescent beneath. Fall color is variable, sometimes
producing attractive shades of yellow-brown to red-brown. Old leaves tend to
persist on the tree throughout most of the winter. Wood was once used by early
settlers in the midwest for shingles, hence the common name. It is also called the
laurel oak for its laurel-like leaves. Shingle oak is considered to be a
low-maintence tree with good pest resistance. A medium shade tree for large
lawns or parks. Street tree. Best grown in rich, humusy, medium moisture,
well-drained soils in full sun. Adapts to a wide range of soils including dry
ones. Hardy in zones 5-8.
Growing
Instructions for the Shingle Oak
The seeds have
a period of dormancy. They can be planted outdoors in the fall or winter for
spring germination or they can be cold stratified to simulate winter conditions
and to break their dormancy at any time of the year. 1. Soak the seeds in water
for 24 hours. 2. Put the seeds in a ziplock bag. 3. Put the bag in the
refrigerator and leave it there for 2 months. 4. The seeds like moist,
well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand,
perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. 5. Sow the seeds 1 inch deep in
the soil. 6. Water the soil so that it is moist but not wet. 8. When the
seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.
Ryan (verified owner) –
WOW!! Not one dud in the bunch!! Shortly after planting they started growing ! These are really great packet of seeds!!!
Zane (verified owner) –
I was happy about the quick delivery and that the seeds actually sprouted within 7 days
Nolan (verified owner) –
The seeds had a great germination rate
Kevin (verified owner) –
The product is firmly packed.
Zane (verified owner) –
These seeds came right up and started producing squash. Can’t ask for more than that.