Chestnut Oak
Quercus montana
- Native to:
- United States
Mwanner
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus montana
- USDA Symbol:
- QUMO4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acrocercops strigosus, Cameraria cincinnatiella, Coleophora querciella, Confused Morrisonia (Morrisonia confusa), elm spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Finlayson's oakworm moth (Anisota finlaysoni), Girlfriend Underwing (Catocala amica), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Himella fidelis, Lineella Underwing (Catocala lineella), maple trumpet skeletonizer (Catastega aceriella), Marmara fulgidella, Meganola spodia, Morrisonia latex, oak leaf blotch miner (Cameraria hamadryadella), Orange-tipped oakworm moth (Anisota senatoria), Phyllonorycter aeriferella, Phyllonorycter argentifimbriella, Phyllonorycter basistrigella, Phyllonorycter fitchella, Phyllonorycter hagenii, Pink-striped oakworm moth (Anisota virginiensis), Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata), Spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Coptotriche castaneaeella, Cryptolectica Vári, Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), oak blotch miner moth (Tischeria quercitella)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, squirrels, deer, turkey, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- brown, yellow, orange
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick bark provides fire resistance in mature trees; resprouts vigorously from root crown after top-kill by fire.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives on rocky ridges and slopes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Acorns have no dormancy and can germinate immediately if sown fresh in fall; cold stratification mimics natural winter conditions for spring planting.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 90 days.
Source: Claude AI