Shingle Oak is found in its native habitat along streams and in valleys where moisture is readily available. Like many other trees native to these type of sites, this one tolerates wet soil once it is well established. Newly planted trees inundated with water before they are established can die. The tree usually grows with a central leader up through the canopy. Early pruning should concentrate on maintaining this form as far up into the tree as possible.

Shingle Oak should be grown in full sun and prefers moist but well-drained, acid soils though it will adapt to moderately drier conditions and slightly alkaline soil. The wood of Shingle Oak is extremely durable and was used in pioneer days for split shingles. This strong nature of Shingle Oak and its pyramidal shape when young help to make it suited to use as a screen, or a durable street or specimen tree which is unlikely to be damaged by harsh winds or snow- or ice-loads. Oak wood is considered ring porous to semi-ring porous.

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