Dwarf Chinkapin Oak (Quercus prinoides)

Family: Fagaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Quercus prinoides is a deciduous Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft 1in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweet taste. — The seed is up to 15mm long, it can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread.; The seed might contain bitter tannins, these can be leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water though many minerals will also be lost.; Either the whole seed can be used or the seed can be dried and ground it into a powder.; It can take several days or even weeks to properly leach whole seeds, one method was to wrap them in a cloth bag and place them in a stream.

Habitat & North American Range

Sunny sites, often in rocky or acid sandy soils on dry plains, rocks, thickets and woodland edges. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)