Description
This plant restricted for shipment to CA, OR
Latin Name: Quercus alba
Common Names: White Oak, Fork-Leaf White Oak, Stave Oak
Zones: 3-9
Mature Height/Spread: Typically grows 50-100 feet (15-30 meters) tall, with a similar or greater width. When young, the crown is more pyramidal, but as the tree matures, it becomes broad and rounded (Missouri Botanical Garden).
Soil / Climate: Native to North America, the White Oak thrives in full sun but can tolerate moderate shade. It adapts well to various soil types but prefers deep, moist, well-drained soils. It is a slow-growing and long-lived species.
Notes: In spring, as the leaves emerge, the tree produces inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers. Male catkins are 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, while female catkins are shorter and reddish, growing in small spikes (Virginia Tech). The acorns are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long with a scaly cap. Leaves, which appear alongside the flowers, are 4-9 inches (10-23 cm) long with 7-9 rounded lobes. Initially pinkish, the leaves mature to dark green and turn brown to dark red in the fall (Missouri Botanical Garden). The bark is whitish-gray with a scaly to blocky texture, and the twigs are smooth and reddish-brown (Virginia Tech). White Oak is an excellent choice for large areas such as golf courses, cemeteries, and parks due to its attractiveness, longevity, and desirability. The wood is versatile, used for flooring, furniture, interior finishes, and cabinetmaking. Its durability makes it suitable for wine barrels and wilderness coffee. Historically, Native Americans used acorn gruel and its mold growth for medicinal purposes, treating sores and inflammation. The White Oak is celebrated as a symbol of strength and endurance.
Problems: White Oak can be susceptible to anthracnose, oak wilt, and leaf blister. It may also be affected by pests such as leaf miners, scale, lace bugs, and oak skeletonizers (Missouri Botanical Garden).
Wildlife: The acorns, though smaller and less bitter than those of red oaks, are a valuable food source for various wildlife including turkeys, wood ducks, pheasants, grackles, jays, nuthatches, thrushes, woodpeckers, rabbits, squirrels, and deer. Leaf buds are also consumed by several bird species, and all parts of the tree are favored by deer.
Cold Stream Farm supplies White Oak trees which are grown as bare root seedlings and transplants and sold both wholesale and retail with no minimum order.
Sources:
Additional information on Quercus alba can be found on the link: USDA / NRCS PLANTS Database.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.