Shingle Oak

Biological Name:

Quercus imbricaria (Shingle-Oak)

Natural Habitat:

Shingle-Oak: Woodlands, North America

Description:

Shingle-Oak also known as Quercus is a plant that is native to forested areas of North America. It is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 80 feet tall and it has large lobed leaves and small inconspicuous flowers that are typically green or yellow in color. The plant is known for its tough shingle-like bark which was once used to make roofing shingles and it is often used in the production of wood products such as furniture and flooring.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is shingle oak poisonous?
A: Toxicity. Shingle oak is toxic to many large mammals, including humans.
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Q: Is shingle oak A good tree?
A: Shingle oak may be one of the best oaks, but it is not commonly used. It makes a good park or street tree. Because it adapts to pruning and has persistent leaves, it is useful as a hedge. The leaves on shingle oak are glossy green and are not lobed.
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Q: Are shingle oaks messy?
A: The catkins are considered messy by some. The acorns will attract a variety of wildlife including large birds, squirrels, and deer. The leaves may turn yellow or reddish in fall.
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Q: Which oak is the most disease resistant?
A: “Post oak may be the most resistant while Lacey oak and bur oak are the least.” “Post oak tends to be the most resistant of the group while bur oak is the most sensitive… Whereas in the red oak group the disease may kill the tree in a few weeks, in the white oak group it may take several years.
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Q: How fast does a shingle oak tree grow?
A: It grows at a moderate rate of about 12”-18” per year, reaching about 60′ or so at maturity. Its wood was once used by early settlers in the Midwest for shingles, resulting in its common name.
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Q: How do you identify shingles oak?
A: ”
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Q: Do shingle oaks produce acorns?
A: The fruit is an acorn maturing in two years, 1/2 inch long, rounded and covered about halfway with a turban-shaped cup. Shingle oak is a common tree of the central and eastern U.S. from Pennsylvania to northeastern Alabama and west as far as Kansas.
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Q: Do deer eat shingle oak acorns?
A: Topic: The Types of Acorns that Deer Eat: These are shingle oak acorns. They are most identifiable by their small size and the fact that the caps stay on them pretty tightly. The easiest way to identify shingle oak acorn is by looking at the tree that dropped them.
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Q: What is a deer’s favorite tree?
A: No tree is more revered in the whitetail world than oaks, of which there are a multitude of types. Oak trees provide an array of food to local whitetails depending on their age and variety, Duren noted. “Red oak seedlings are a favorite browse for deer, while white oak acorns provide a favored mast crop.”
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Q: What are deer’s favorite acorns?
A: Generally speaking, White Oak acorns have the lowest tannic acid levels which provide them with a sweeter flavor over Red Oak acorns. Thus this nut is what deer prefer when available and will continue to consume them throughout the year while they are still edible.
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Q: Are shingle oaks good trees?
A: Shingle oak may be one of the best oaks, but it is not commonly used. It makes a good park or street tree. Because it adapts to pruning and has persistent leaves, it is useful as a hedge. The leaves on shingle oak are glossy green and are not lobed.
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Q: What oak Do deer prefer?
A: Deer prefer white oaks, which drop their fruit earlier than red oaks. Deer will gather under the oak trees and start eating the acorns they find on the ground or on low-hanging branches. Only after the white oak crops have been consumed will deer turn to their second-best choice, which is red oaks.
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Q: Can humans eat acorns?
A: Raw acorns contain tannins which can be toxic to humans and cause an unpleasant bitter taste. They are also poisonous to horses, cattle and dogs. But by leaching acorns to remove the tannin, they can be made safe for human consumption.
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Q: What is a deer’s favorite nut tree?
A: Chestnuts are chosen by deer over other nuts because of their taste and nutrition. They are high in carbohydrates at 40 percent and contain up to 10 percent high-quality protein. This provides a critical and easily usable energy source.
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