5 Acorn Tree Types: Identification Guide with Growing Zones (How to Grow)

Interestingly, the Blackjack Oak is an excellent tree to grow in small yards and it’s used as a pioneer species to help build back and stabilize the forests after fires or to reclaim the land that has been cleared.

What Are Acorns and Where Do Acorns Come From?

Acorns are the nuts of oak trees.

Acorns usually contain one seed (some species contain two seeds) enclosed in a hard, rubbery shell. They are 1 to 6 centimeters long and 0.8 to 4 centimeters thick.

(Image: Couleur¹¹)

Acorns come from the oak tree (they are the fruit of the oak tree). They are an important part of the diets of several species of woodpeckers, wildlife such as jays and ducks, and mammals such as squirrels, mice, and deer.

What Tree Does an Acorn Come From?

As stated above, acorns come from the oak tree.¹

There are about 500 oak tree species worldwide, 90 of which are native to the United States.

Acorn Production of Oak Trees: How Often Do Acorns Fall?

Acorn production varies depending on the type of tree species and the level of stress the acorn tree has undergone.

However, acorns generally fall every 1-3 years, with the production level being the highest in August through October.

Do Oak Trees Have Acorns Every Year?

Oak trees do not have acorns every year. Most oak tree species produce acorns after every 2 to 3 years, however, some specific trees may produce them every year.

However, white oak trees produce acorns once every 4 to 6 years, while red oak trees produce acorns every 3 to 5 years. (On average… some trees will produce every year, depending on age.)

When Do Acorns Fall in All U.S. States?

The table below shows when acorns fall in U.S. states:

How To Identify Acorn Trees: How Big Are White Oak Acorn Tree Leaves?

On average, white oak acorn tree leaves range from 4 to 8 inches in length; however, this is not a universal rule.

The largest acorn tree leaf on record was found in Livingston, Alabama, and measured 16.53 inches (42 centimeters) long and 15.63 inches (39.7 centimeters) wide.

How Much Carbon Does an Acorn Oak Tree Sequester (Acorn Tree)?

On average, an acorn oak tree sequesters 5,000 kilograms of CO₂e, while a 50-year-old acorn oak forest sequesters 30,000 pounds of CO₂ per acre. The live oak sequesters the highest amount of CO₂e, i.e., 10,994 CO₂e, over its lifetime.

Growing an Oak Tree From an Acorn: How To Grow an Oak Tree From an Acorn

You can plant acorns and grow oak trees by following these simple steps:

1. Select Viable Acorns

Place the acorns in a bucket of cold water and let them soak for 24 hours. Empty or damaged acorns will float, while viable acorns will sink.

Throw the floating acorns away and let the viable acorns sit in the water longer, as this helps rehydrate them.

2. Plant the Acorns (In Pots, Germinate Acorn in Fridge, In the Ground)

There are many ways to plant acorns, including in pots, in water by germinating the acorn in the fridge, and in the ground.

3. Keep the Soil Moist

Ensure that the soil is moist until winter comes around. During winter, you can leave acorns alone but when spring comes around, restart watering them to keep them moist.

4. Thin the Seedlings

When the acorns germinate, use scissors or a garden snip to thin out the weaker of the two seedlings. Thinning is important as it leaves the strongest acorn to thrive.

5. Transplant the Seedling Into Bigger Pots

When the seedlings are around 5 to 6 inches tall, transplant them into bigger pots. Fill the pots halfway with potting soil and garden soil, and add a handful of slow-release fertilizer to the potting and garden soil.

6. Move to a Permanent Location

When the root system starts growing out of the drain holes, it is time to relocate the saplings to a permanent location. Dig a hole three times bigger (in diameter and depth) and add organic matter to improve the drainage.

Spread a thick layer of mulch on the base, leaving two inches of space between the mulch and the acorn tree. Ensure that you protect the tree with hardware cloth fencing for at least three years.

Now that you know how to plant an acorn, go ahead and plant different acorn tree species, and with time, you will get to enjoy the timeless beauty the acorn tree provides. Remember the ‘no leaves on tree’ rule.

Therefore, always ensure that your seedlings have leaves for proper growth.

How To Plant an Acorn

Here are the different methods to use when planting acorns:

How To Plant Acorns in Pots

To plant acorns in pots, use pots that are deep enough to support root growth, ideally 2.5 x 2.5 x 3.5-inch pots. Fill the pots with potting soil and place two acorns sideways at a depth of about 1 inch.

Water the acorns well until water starts running out of the drainage holes.

How To Plant Acorns in Water

Soak the acorns in water for 24 hours. Remove the acorns and wrap them in a moist towel, then place the moist towel in a zip bag.

Keep the zip bag in the fridge until you see the first root (you can germinate acorns in fridge environments: this method is known as stratification). It can take between 1 and 2 months to see the first root.

Once you see the first root, set the acorns with the roots in glasses of water, and in less than a month, they will grow leaves. You can then transfer the acorns into pots or plant them in the ground.

How To Plant Acorns in the Ground: How Deep To Plant Acorns

Place the acorns one or 1½ inches deep. Ensure that you choose a planting site where the acorns can receive specialized care before you transplant them to a permanent location.

After planting the seed, cover the area with hardware cloth fencing. This prevents animals from digging up and eating oak seedlings.

You can remove the fencing materials once the acorns start to germinate.²

How Exactly Do You Eat Acorns? Is It Safe To Eat Them Raw?

Once you have leached the tannins from your acorns, you can eat them in various ways, including:

• Roasting: You can roast acorns and eat them out of hand.
• Acorn Brittle: You can use acorns instead of peanuts when making peanut brittle.
• Acorn Cookies: You can use acorn flour to make cookies. When making cookies, swap wheat flour for acorn flour and tickle your taste buds.
• Acorn Bread: You can use acorn flour to make bread. However, the bread will be crumbly due to the acorn’s natural crumbly texture.

Types of Oak Trees in the United States

The following table summarizes the types of oak trees in each U.S. state:

Oak Tree Leaf Identification Chart: How To Identify Types of Oak Trees by Leaf

The main types of oak trees in the U.S. are Red, Black, and White oaks; however, other oak tree varieties grow in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

(Image: JamesDeMers²²)

The section below shows unique features in main oak tree varieties and will show you how to identify types of oak trees by leaf.

1. White Oak Tree

• Gray bark
• Leaves turn yellow or red during the fall

2. Black Oak Tree

• Shiny green leaves at the top of the tree
• Faded green leaves at the bottom of the tree
• Hairy bud at the end of leaf and the leaf stalk

3. Northern Red Oak Tree

• Pointed leaf bristles
• Wide lobes on the leaves
• Leaves turn red or orange-red during fall

4. Southern Red Oak Tree

• Five lobes on leaf
• Hairs on the abaxial surface³
• Leaves turn green-yellow to orange during the fall

5. Chestnut Oak Tree

• Thick, oval-shaped leaves
• Leaves turn yellowing-green in summer
• Leaves change from orange-yellow to yellow-brown during the fall

Related Reading: Oak Tree Leaf Identification Chart With Locations (13 Oak Species)

What Can Acorns Be Used For? (What To Do With Oak Acorns)

If you have an abundance of acorns in your yard and are wondering what to do with oak acorns, you can use acorns in several ways, including:

Use Acorns for Baking

Acorns can be ground to make flour for cookies, pastries, and bread. If you plan to bake with acorn flour, leach with cold water, as this helps preserve the starch and hold the dough together.

Use Acorns for Arts and Crafts

Acorns are perfect for arts and crafts projects.

If you have children, you can use acorns to make acorn figures, use toothpicks and matchsticks for arms and legs, make acorn photo frames by gluing acorn heads on frames and make acorn jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.

(Image: Majaranda²³)

You can also use acorns to make a fall wreath, candle holders, and hanging baubles. You can also make vases by gluing acorns onto a plastic container or a statement mirror by gluing acorn caps on a mirror frame.

Use Acorns in Animal Feeders

You can collect acorns and use them in animal feeders.

Acorns are a staple for more than 100 vertebrae species in the United States, including mammals such as red foxes, gray squirrels, wild hogs, opossums, raccoons, and rabbits, and birds such as wood ducks, woodpeckers, and crows.

If you want to remove acorns in your yard or driveway, instead of disposing of them in the trash, fill your animal feeders with acorns and provide these vertebrate species with this indispensable component in their diets.

What Fruits and Nuts Do Trees Produce?

Trees produce different types of fruits and nuts, including:

Elm Fruits

In some places, Elms are viewed as trees of ill-omen because the fruits they produce have no value. Elm fruits do not hold any ornamental appeal. Even worse, they are not edible by humans.

Birch Tree Fruits

The birch tree produces fruits and nuts such as pears, apples, prunes, peaches, cherries, apricots, almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts.

Pine Tree Fruits

Pine trees produce pine nuts, the edible seeds of the inedible pine casing. They are delicious and are often used to make pesto and cook other dishes.

Maple Tree Fruits

Maple tree fruits are known as Samaras. Samaras are edible and provide the body with vitamins, proteins, minerals, and oils, including omega 3, 6, and 9.

Beech Tree Fruits

Beech tree fruits are known as mast or beechnuts. They are small, triangular, and edible. Some beech tree species are bitter, while others have a mild nut-like taste.

Walnut Tree Fruits

Walnut fruits are not eaten fresh but are commonly infused into alcohol, used in pickles, and candied in syrup.

Chestnut Tree Fruits

Some chestnut tree varieties produce sweet chestnuts, while others produce horse chestnuts. Sweet chestnuts are edible. On the other hand, horse chestnuts are poisonous and can cause throat irritation, abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting when consumed.⁵

The acorn tree is one of nature’s most glorious shelter trees; however, the tree’s worth goes beyond its sturdiness.

When eaten, acorns provide the body with essential vitamins, proteins, minerals, and oils. They are also a source of food for various types of mammals and wildlife, and the acorn tree sequesters CO₂, improving air quality. If you have not yet planted an acorn tree, now is the time to add this illustrious tree species to your yard.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acorn Tree