Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern and central North America, known for its chestnut-like, shallowly toothed leaves, light gray, flaky bark, and small, edible acorns. It is a member of the white oak group, prefers well-drained, often alkaline soils on rocky uplands, and is a valuable tree for wildlife.

• Size: Typically 40-60 feet tall with a spread of 50-70 feet, but can grow larger on exceptional sites 
• Trunk & Bark: Medium-sized tree with light gray, flaky bark with shallow furrows
• Leaves: Simple, alternately arranged, 4-7 inches long, with coarse, toothed margins and a shiny green upper surface, pale or whitish underneath
• Flowers: Inconspicuous, wind-pollinated, greenish-yellow male and female flowers on the same tree (monoecious), appearing with the leaves in spring
• Fruit: Small acorns, 0.5 to 1 inch long, with a cap covering about one-half of the nut, maturing in one season
• Sun: A shade-intolerant species that requires full sun for best growth and acorn production