Quercus palustris - Pin Oak - Evergreen Trees Direct

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak

$250.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 40cm/45L

40cm/45L 100L 200L 300L 400L 500L 700L

Current Stock Height Guides

40cm/45L: 1.5m – 2.3m Approx.
100L: 1.8m – 3.1m Approx.
400L: 3.4m – 5.4m Approx.
700L: 3.8m – 5.5m Approx.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 15m to 25m (approx.)

Mature Width: 9m to 15m

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak is expected to grow 60cm to 90cm per year (fast) (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Shipping is calculated at checkout based on the pallet space your order occupies in the truck and your delivery location.

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Quercus palustris - Pin Oak

Quercus palustris delivers the most reliable autumn colour of any oak grown in Australia, turning deep scarlet through bronze across a canopy of deeply lobed glossy leaves. The Pin Oak is also the fastest of the oaks, which removes the usual objection to planting one.

Quercus palustris grows to 15 to 25 metres tall and 9 to 15 metres wide at 60 to 90 centimetres per year, holding a strong pyramidal form with a straight central leader and distinctive downswept lower branches. It is a standard choice for avenues, parkland and large-scale civic shade planting.

This is a frost hardy tree that survives heavy and frequent frost without damage, and it colours best where autumn nights are genuinely cold. It grows in full sun, tolerates wet ground better than most oaks, and handles compacted urban soils.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Quercus palustris

How big does Quercus palustris grow?

The Pin Oak reaches 15 to 25 metres tall and 9 to 15 metres wide. It is a large shade tree suited to parkland, avenues and acreage rather than small suburban blocks.

How fast does Pin Oak grow?

It grows at 60 to 90 centimetres per year, which makes it the fastest of the commonly grown oaks and the most practical where shade is needed within a reasonable timeframe.

When does Pin Oak get its autumn colour?

Foliage turns deep scarlet through bronze in autumn and holds well before dropping. Colour is most intense in districts with cold autumn nights, such as the tablelands and inland Victoria.

Is Quercus palustris deciduous?

Yes. It is fully deciduous, though young trees often hold dry brown foliage through winter, dropping it as new growth emerges in spring.

Does Pin Oak tolerate wet ground?

Yes. Quercus palustris naturally occurs on bottomland and floodplain sites and tolerates periodically wet, heavy soils better than most oaks.

How far apart should I plant Pin Oaks for an avenue?

Plant 8 to 10 metres apart for an avenue where canopies will eventually meet, and at least 10 metres from buildings, paving and services.

Is Pin Oak frost hardy?

Yes. It survives heavy and frequent frost without damage and performs reliably in cold inland districts, where it also colours best.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Avenue Planting
Shade Tree
Street Tree
Feature Tree
Rural Property Planting

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak works in an:

Woodland Garden – layered, naturalistic design under dappled light.
Heritage / Traditional Garden – timeless, classic plantings for period homes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Quercus palustris - Pin Oak Evergreen or Deciduous?

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak is an Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 15m to 25m (approx.)

Mature Width: 9m to 15m

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak is expected to grow 60cm to 90cm per year (fast) (approx.).

Growth Rate of Quercus palustris - Pin Oak

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak is expected to grow 60cm to 90cm per year (fast) (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Quercus palustris - Pin Oak

Is Quercus palustris - Pin Oak frost tolerant?

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Does Quercus palustris - Pin Oak Flower?

Quercus palustris produces small, inconspicuous catkins in spring, followed by characteristic acorns later in the year. While the flowers are not ornamental, the Pin Oak is celebrated for its deeply lobed foliage and vibrant autumn colours, typically in shades of red, bronze and russet.

Does Quercus palustris - Pin Oak flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Catkin-like

Flower Colour:

Yellow

Is Quercus palustris - Pin Oak an Australian Native Tree?

No

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak is Native to Eastern and central United States, where it grows naturally in moist lowlands, floodplains, and along streams.

What is the Wildlife Value of Quercus palustris - Pin Oak ?

Its dense, pyramidal canopy provides excellent shelter and nesting habitat for small birds, while its foliage supports a broad range of beneficial insects that underpin local food webs. The acorns that follow in autumn also offer a valuable seasonal food source for wildlife, making the Pin Oak a strong biodiversity-enhancing species.

How much Sunlight does Quercus palustris - Pin Oak need?

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Quercus palustris performs best in well-drained loam soils with an acidic pH. It will also tolerate sandy loam if enriched with organic matter to improve moisture retention. Avoid alkaline soils, compacted ground or waterlogged conditions unless significantly improved, as these can cause leaf chlorosis and restrict growth. Keep the soil evenly moist during establishment, then gradually reduce watering as the tree matures.

Is Quercus palustris - Pin Oak Drought Tolerant?

Is Quercus palustris - Pin Oak Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it requires regular deep watering during establishment. Once established, Pin Oak develops moderate drought tolerance and performs reliably through warm, dry periods when grown in well-drained, acidic soil. Occasional supplementary watering during extended heat helps maintain canopy density and strong seasonal colour.

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How To Plant Your Quercus palustris - Pin Oak

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Quercus palustris - Pin Oak

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Quercus palustris - Pin Oak is expected to grow 60cm to 90cm per year (fast) (approx.).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Quercus palustris - Pin Oak

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional scale or caterpillar inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Quercus palustris - Pin Oak in Different Soil

Quercus palustris performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Pin Oak (Quercus palustris):

Q: Is Pin Oak suitable for small gardens?

A: While Pin Oaks can reach a height of 9-15 meters with an equal spread, they can be managed in larger gardens and landscapes. For small gardens, consider planting dwarf varieties or other more compact trees.

Q: Does Pin Oak require special care during winter?

A: Pin Oaks are generally low-maintenance during winter. You can mulch around the base of the tree to help protect the roots from colder temperatures.

Q: Can I grow Pin Oak as a topiary or hedge?

A: Pin Oaks have an upright and rounded crown habit, making them a great choice for topiary or as part of a hedge when regularly pruned and maintained.

Q: How often should I fertilize Pin Oak?

A: Fertilize Pin Oak with a slow-release fertilizer twice a year, preferably in spring and early summer, to ensure healthy growth and abundant flowering. The choice of fertilizer should be suitable for the specific needs of the soil in your area.