# Young oak tree with acorns on just one branch. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696 "2021-08-28T22:01:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/1 "2021-08-28T22:01:37Z")
I didn’t plant the tree, but I know that it is less than 11 years old. I suspect its about 7, but what do I know, I didn’t plant it. It appears healthy, its growing, the leaves are glossy green and I’m not seeing any signs of distress. One branch and only one branch has a bunch of acorns growing. This branch is between the house and the tree, so probably gets less sun than the rest of the branches but I can’t see or think of any other difference between the acorn growing branch and all of the other not acorn growing branches. What’s your opinion on this mystery? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/2 "2021-08-28T23:21:03Z")
Maybe the squirrels got to all the other branches already and are saving that one for last? ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/3 "2021-08-28T23:23:58Z")
Possibly, but we don’t have tree squirrels out here and the acorns aren’t ripe, they are still growing. The yard is fenced, deer can’t get in and they are the only critters out thisaway that could reach that high. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2021, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/4 "2021-08-28T23:29:49Z")
Actually now that I think about it, we have a maple tree in the back yard where I’ve noticed something similar. In the spring when it starts sprouting those “helicopter” seeds, sometimes they are only on a few branches on one side of the tree. No idea why it happens though… ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/5 "2021-08-28T23:46:12Z")
Maybe the branch between your house and the tree is not accessible to your local [acorn woodpeckers](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/acorn-woodpeckers-hoard-thousands-of-acorns-in-a-single-tree). > **[Acorn Woodpeckers Hoard Thousands of Acorns in a Single Tree](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/acorn-woodpeckers-hoard-thousands-of-acorns-in-a-single-tree)** > > That’s not even the weirdest thing about them. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/6 "2021-08-29T05:38:54Z")
I got all excited when I looked them up, they would be so much fun to see in our yard. Except oaks aren’t common here. The tree in question was planted by the last owner, they don’t grow wild at our altitude. Acorn Woodpeckers would need to fly about 60 miles to harvest from our lone tree, so I doubt they are the answer. I appreciate the suggestions, btw. I think this is interesting and would like to know the answer so please don’t think that I’m just saying NONONO for fun. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/7 "2021-08-29T10:50:51Z")
Could the branch be getting more light reflected from the house? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/8 "2021-08-29T11:48:28Z")
Or heat? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/9 "2021-08-29T15:18:54Z")
There are numerous factors that affect acorn production. > **[Plenty of reasons oaks stop producing acorns](https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/garden/chip-tynan/plenty-of-reasons-oaks-stop-producing-acorns/article_a37d74be-761d-5e29-863f-bdf486b99b25.html)** > > Q • I have a white oak that’s about 60 feet tall and about 2 ½ feet in diameter. I’ve lived with it for 10 years, and it hasn’t put A young oak simply might not have matured sufficiently to have a full-scale acorn crop. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/10 "2021-08-29T17:29:52Z")
Any of what’s been already suggested might be the reason. Or you might have a limb sport, which is maturing earlier than the rest of the tree or can produce under different conditions. > **[Sport (botany)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_(botany))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > In botany, a sport or bud sport, traditionally called lusus, is a part of a plant that shows morphological differences from the rest of the plant. Sports may differ by foliage shape or color, flowers, fruit, or branch structure. The cause is generally thought to be a chance genetic mutation. > Sports with desirable characteristics are often propagated vegetatively to form new cultivars that retain the characteristics of the new morphology. Such sel... > **[Information About Plant Sports: What Is A Sport In The Plant World](https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/plant-sport-mutations.htm)** > > If you've noticed something outside the norm in your garden, it could be the result of plant sport mutations. What are these? Read this article to learn more about plant sports. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/11 "2021-08-29T19:12:10Z")
I kinda figured I’d never know what is going on with our Oak, but all of the things suggested are interesting. This is the first time I’ve seen acorns on the tree, so I think age is probably a factor. Oaks are slow growing trees. The weather here has been stranger than normal, the heat is killing saguaros. We had several hard freezes last winter, which are also not normal. I’m really hoping that the tree is doing well and is just young, not stressed. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-oak-tree-with-acorns-on-just-one-branch-why/949696/12 "2021-08-29T20:46:06Z")
I think you are correct about the tree not producing much because it’s young. For an oak to only be 11 years old and already producing acorns is actually kind of unusual. It’s more typical for them to be older than that before they produce - sometimes much older. Acorn crops can vary a lot from year to year, too - and that’s perfectly normal as well.