{"product_id":"northern-pin-oak","title":"Northern Pin Oak","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Native Oak With Show-Stopping Scarlet Fall Color\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorthern Pin Oak (\u003cem\u003eQuercus ellipsoidalis\u003c\/em\u003e), also called Hill's oak, is a Minnesota native prized above all for its fall color — deeply lobed glossy leaves that blaze a brilliant scarlet-red, among the most vivid of any native oak. It's also wonderfully adaptable, thriving on dry, sandy, or acidic soils where other oaks struggle, and it grows at a respectable moderate-to-fast pace. Hardy to zone 3 and long-lived, it pairs autumn drama with native toughness. Whether you're planting a fall-color specimen in Edina, a native oak for a sandy lot in Woodbury, or a wildlife tree in Maple Grove, Northern Pin Oak lights up the landscape every October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorthern Pin Oak Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cem\u003eQuercus ellipsoidalis\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern Pin Oak, Hill's Oak\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50–70 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40–50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to fast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) for best form and fall color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Drought-tolerant once established; well-suited to dry sites.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — very hardy across the metro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable, and notably tolerant of dry, sandy, and acidic soils where other oaks struggle.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — deeply lobed glossy leaves turning brilliant scarlet in fall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAcorns\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduces acorns with age — food for deer, turkeys, squirrels, and jays\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — deer browse young trees and acorns; protect when small\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinnesota native — common in the state's sandy oak woodlands\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorthern Pin Oak Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBrilliant Fall-Color Specimen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the native oak to plant for autumn fireworks — its scarlet-red fall color is among the most brilliant of any oak, making a single tree a glowing focal point on a lawn in Edina or Plymouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough Tree for Dry, Sandy Sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorthern Pin Oak excels exactly where many trees fail — on dry, sandy, or acidic soils. That makes it a smart native choice for the sandy soils common in parts of the eastern and northern metro and for low-water landscapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNative Wildlife Oak\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a native oak, it supports a vast web of native insects and birds, and its acorns feed deer, turkeys, squirrels, and jays — an excellent cornerstone for a wildlife-friendly or Lawns to Legumes-style planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Northern Pin Oak in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOaks are deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May)\u003c\/strong\u003e, once the ground has thawed, is ideal — oaks establish best with a full season ahead, and spring planting gives the strongest root establishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall (September–mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e also works. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid mid-summer planting, and never plant into frozen ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Northern Pin Oak\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck drainage — Northern Pin Oak prefers well-drained, even sandy soil; avoid heavy, constantly wet ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost \"container\" in clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade, and handle the roots gently — oaks resent root disturbance. Allow room for the broad mature crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches from the trunk, and wrap the young trunk the first winter or two.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Northern Pin Oak in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Northern Pin Oak is quite drought-tolerant, needing supplemental water mainly during extended dry spells (2+ weeks with no rain). Water deeply to 6–8 inches every 7–14 days during drought, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Northern Pin Oak survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Absolutely — it's native across the state and hardy to about -40°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's the fall color like?\u003c\/strong\u003e Brilliant scarlet-red — one of the most vivid fall displays of any native oak, and reliable year after year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it grow in sandy soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it's especially well-adapted to dry, sandy, and acidic soils where many other oaks and shade trees struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — \u003cem\u003eQuercus ellipsoidalis\u003c\/em\u003e is a Minnesota native, common in the state's sandy oak woodlands, with strong wildlife value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNorthern Red Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fast native oak with bold russet-red fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBur Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — the iconic, bombproof native prairie oak for large landscapes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhite Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — a majestic, long-lived native oak with fine fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrimson Spire Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — a narrow columnar oak with red fall color for tight spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Northern Pin Oak Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne tree makes the statement — give a single specimen 40–50 feet of clearance so the broad crown can spread and the scarlet October show reads from across the yard. On larger properties, a loose native grove of 2–3 oaks spaced 35–40 feet apart (mix in Bur Oak or Northern Red Oak for variety) builds a savanna feel and multiplies the wildlife value. It's too large for rows on a standard city lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorthern Pin Oak Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glossy, deeply cut leaves emerge with a reddish tint alongside inconspicuous catkins that feed early insects.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A clean, deep-green canopy of finely lobed foliage — the lacy texture sets it apart from broader-leafed oaks — with steady moderate-to-fast growth even on dry, sandy ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e The headline act: brilliant scarlet-red color, among the most vivid of any native tree, holding for weeks in October.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Strong horizontal branching and some held russet leaves give it presence in snow; with age, acorns draw jays, turkeys, and squirrels all winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/northern-red-oak\"\u003eNorthern Red Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — a faster-growing native cousin whose russet-red fall color layers with the scarlet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bur-oak\"\u003eBur Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — the bombproof prairie oak for the heavier-soil parts of the same property.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/white-oak\"\u003eWhite Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — the majestic, centuries-long companion for a true native oak grove.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/crimson-spire-oak\"\u003eCrimson Spire Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — a narrow columnar oak to echo the red fall color where space is tight.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Northern Pin Oak Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIdeal if you have full sun and dry, sandy, or acidic soil — the exact conditions of much of the eastern and northern metro — and want a long-lived native with the best scarlet fall color of any oak. Protect young trunks from deer and buck rub for the first couple of winters. Not a fit for heavy, constantly wet clay or high-pH soils, where it can develop chlorosis — on those sites plant a Bur Oak instead.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260810121521,"sku":"GT-T3469","price":411.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260810154289,"sku":"GT-T3470","price":466.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260810187057,"sku":"GT-T3471","price":548.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3\"BB","offer_id":54260810219825,"sku":"GT-T3472","price":576.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/northern-pin-oak.jpg?v=1779426701","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/northern-pin-oak","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}