Chestnut Oak

Description

Chestnut oak is a moderately sized tree, growing 60-80 feet in height, native to most of Tennessee. With its Latin name meaning “mountain,” it’s no surprise to find chestnut oaks along the Highland Rim, throughout the Cumberland Plateau, and eastern Tennessee’s mountains. Chestnut oak tolerates shade moderately well, and develops well on dry ridges and slopes with poor soil fertility. Chestnut oak can grow in pure stands or mixed with other oak and pine species tolerant of dry slopes. Chestnut oak acorns are eaten by a variety of wildlife species including small mammals, turkeys, white-tailed deer, and black bears.