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What kind of oak is this?

last year

I have watched this young tree down the street all year. I have really admired these lovely leaves. They were a deep green and now a dark brown are falling slowly off the tree.

I think it is an oak but I can't seem to identify it. Any thoughts?

(Ontario Zone 6)

Featured Answer

bengz6westmd

last year

last modified: last year

There are alot of rock chestnut oaks (Q prinus) around here and never seen one w/nearly that many shallow lobes, but looking at an image search shows a few examples close to the OP's pic..

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=quercus+prinus&atb=v252-1&iax=images&ia=images

Swamp chestnut oak's range is well south of Ontario, but I think it would grow there if planted in zone 6.

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Comments (10)

bengz6westmd
last year
Not sure, doesn't look like a native US oak. Maybe Q cerris that's native to Europe?

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Quercus+cerris&t=ffab&atb=v252-1&iax=images&ia=images
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
last modified: last year
possibly :

Quercus michauxii, swamp chestnut oak.

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280721&isprofile=0&#:~:text=Quercus%20michauxii%2C%20commonly%20called%20swamp,Missouri%20and%20the%20southern%20parts
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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It usually helps to include big city location....as noted we don't know if you aare in the us or
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
Ontario zone 6

Last line of original post
arbordave (SE MI)
last year
last modified: last year
I'd guess Chestnut Oak, Quercus montana (= Q prinus), which is native to southern Ontario. The distribution maps for Chestnut Oak show its range extending into southeastern Michigan (map below is from Wikipedia), but I believe there is some question whether it is actually native here. I don't think I've ever seen it growing in the wild here.
ViburnumValley central KY Bluegrass z6
last year
"I have watched this young tree down the street..."

Well, we can't watch it - but we can sure learn a lot more and help with the ID better IF YOU SHOW THE WHOLE TREE. And also show the context where it is growing: planted as a specimen or street tree, part of a woodland, adventitious seedling in a fencerow, etc.

And, then provide images of ALL its parts, not just the leaves. Take clear closeups of the buds, the stems, twigs, and branches, and then the trunk and bark. Prune off a branch, if necessary, to get clear images.

Not yelling per se, but you have the opportunity to make this ID really easy. Grab the ring.

And not to be contrarian, but first glance made me think of Chinkapin Oak - Quercus muhlenbergii. If this is a planted tree, then it could easily be any of the educated guesses provided so far, or an interspecific hybrid of any two.
bengz6westmd
last year
last modified: last year
VV, that's prb'ly the best guess given the info.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=Quercus+muhlenbergii.&atb=v252-1&iax=images&ia=images
D Bee
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
ouch bengz6westmd & ViburnumValley central KY Bluegrass z6

i'm out
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
last year
last modified: last year
Aw, D Bee, Both of them gave you really good advice. Often, acorns can be used to help identify the species of oak tree as can the bark. No need to run away...unless you meant you are heading out to get more photos! The leaves are beautiful and now I would really like to know what the tree is!

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