Oak, Swamp Chestnut

Description:

A true classic, the swamp chestnut oak towers among other trees beloved for their regal form and thick shade. Although its flowers are unremarkable, the fresh green leaves with wavy edges and the strong limbs, perfect for childhood swings, secure its place in the landscape. Hairstreak and duskywing butterflies as well as imperial moths claim the swamp chestnut oak as home for their larvae. The acorns are prized by deer, turkey, squirrels, and woodpeckers. And in the fall, vibrant red leaves secures its name among the tree kings of autumn.
The swamp chestnut oak was born and raised in the swamps and low woodlands of Mississipi. In spite of its upbringing, it adapts well to dry and urban environments, even though it still prefers moist, well-drained areas like any sensible tree. Swamp chestnut oak lumber was valued in the 19th-century South for axe handles, wagon wheels, and other implements. Some people fashioned cotton-picking baskets from thin, flexible splints–which earned it the nickname “basket oak.” Today, the swamp chestnut oak is most valuable as a landscape or naturalization tree. When you plant, remember that swamp chestnut oak will get big, and gives it lots of room to show you what it can do. Then sit back and prepare to enjoy a tree that will serve your land for generations.