Trees - Chinkapin Oak
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  I am enclosing a leaf from a tree in our back yard. The tree measures 9 feet around. I was told it was a chinkapin. I thought these trees were almost extinct. Could you verify this identification?

  The leaf you sent in was a chinkapin oak, Quercus muehlenbergii, instead of a true chinkapin. It should produce acorns instead of a spiny bur enclosed nut. The oak will also grow much larger than the chinkapin. It makes a beautiful shade tree and is much more durable than the true chinkapin.

  I have planted two chinquapin trees and they seem to be doing well. I dug them in Virginia a year ago November and brought them here. How big do they get and do they need any special care?

  Chinquapin trees have the potential to grow 20 to 25 feet tall or more, but often form a 6-10 foot high shrub. They were almost wiped out by the chestnut blight and that is why they are not commonly seen. Give them a good rich soil, and plenty of moisture during the growing season.

  Please identify the enclosed plant for me. We just moved into this place and we have loads of landscaping to do, but these bushes were already here. 

  The plant looks to me like an oak tree, Chinkapin oak. It is possible that it is a small seedling and has multi trunks and that is why it appears to be a bush.

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