Do you wish to grow an Oak tree on your land in Maryland? Well, the Old Line State has about 21 native Oak species growing on its lands due to its conducive soil and weather. Read on to discover the types of Oak trees in Maryland that you can grow on your property!
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Oak trees belong to the Quercus species. These trees can be deciduous or evergreen and grow up to massive heights or remain shrub-like when mature. Oak trees are popular due to their durable wood, which timber manufacturers use to make many wooden products, from ships and furniture to musical instruments and basket weaves.
These hardwood specimens are known to survive harsh conditions, wet soils, and drought. They can grow up to be 200 to 300 years old. Some Oak trees around the world are said to be more than 1000 years old! These trees feature brown, copper, or chestnut-colored acorns with typically flat, scaly, shriveled cups. These acorns attract a vast array of wildlife. However, Oak species don’t grow prolific acorn crops until they are 20 or more years old.
Many Oak varieties are Maryland natives. The White Oak is Maryland’s official tree. Other natives include Black Oak, Scarlet Oak, Red, and Pin Oak. The state also grows Post Oak, bur Oak, Chinkapin Oak, Swamp White Oak, and various other Oak varieties.
Maryland has a diverse climate; its eastern side experiences a warm maritime climate with wet and warm summers and mind winters white its western side experiences a moderate maritime climate with cooler, snowier winters. Since Oak trees are hardy specimens, they can grow in varied soils and climate conditions. Hence, the Old Line State has the ideal ground to grow many Oak species.
Here are all the different types of Oak trees you can grow in Maryland:
1. Black Oak (Quercus Velutina)
Black Oak is an inarguably beautiful specimen, thanks to its distinctive black-colored bark. It features a round, attractive, wide-spreading crown adorned with dark green, shiny, lobed, leathery, bristle-edged, deciduous leaves. This tree grows up to a mature height of 50 to 60 feet.
Black Oak has dull red, yellow, and yellowish-brown leaves in autumn. It grows green, non-showy, monoecious spring blooms that give way to elliptic acorns. This specimen grows well in free-draining, organically rich, moist soils in well-lit sites.
2. White Oak (Quercus Alba)
One of the most popular hardwood specimens in central and eastern North America, White Oak grows into a medium to tall-sized tree with a mature height of 50 to 80 feet. It features a pyramidal to rounded, spreading crown adorned with yellowish-green, monoecious, non-showy spring leaves and dark green, lobed, deciduous leaves.
White Oak develops dark red to brown foliage in fall. It also grows brown-colored, oval-shaped acorns with scaly, flat, saucer-like cups. These trees grow well in rich, acidic, moist, free-draining soils in well-lit areas.
3. Scarlet Oak (Quercus Coccinea)
A Southeastern US native, Scarlet Oak is a tall and regal ornamental specimen that grows up to a mature height of 70 feet. This deciduous tree features a rounded, open crown adorned with dark green, lobed, bristle-tipped, glossy leaves that develop a spectacular scarlet color in autumn, which explains this tree’s name. Scarlet Oak grows well in well-lit spaces in dry, free-draining, sandy, and acidic soils. It grows greenish-yellow, monoecious, non-showy flowers.
4. Red Oak (Quercus Rubra)
Also known as Mountain Oak, Red Oak is a highly popular Northern Hemisphere native that gets its name from its beautiful red autumn leaves. This deciduous, wide-spreading specimen grows well in sunlit sites in free-draining, acidic, moist, fertile soils. It reaches a mature height of 50 to 70 feet.
Red Oak has an irregular, broad crown adorned with dark green, sharp-edged, lustrous, lobed leaves. It produces monoecious, non-showy blooms that give way to brown-colored, round acorns with saucer-like cups.
5. Pin Oak (Quercus Palustris)
Also known as Swamp Spanish Oak because of its tolerance to wet conditions, Pin Oak is a stately 50 to 70 feet tall tree. Known as Pin Oak due to its tough, pink-like branchlets growing along its limbs, this deciduous specimen has deep red autumn foliage.
Pin Oak grows monoecious, green, insignificant flowers that give way to oval-shaped to rounded acorns with saucer-like cups. It features lobed, dark green, glossy leaves. Pink Oak grows vertical and horizontal branches. This specimen thrives in sun-kissed areas in moist, free-draining, acidic loams.
