White Oak

Quercus alba

1. White Oak (Quercus alba) is a large deciduous tree that can reach heights of 60 to 100 feet (18 to 30 meters) with a spread of 60 to 80 feet (18 to 24 meters). It has a broad, rounded crown and a sturdy trunk. The bark is light gray and develops deep furrows with age.

2. Leaves: The leaves of White Oak are lobed and have rounded tips. They are dark green in color and turn shades of red, brown, or purple in the fall. The leaves are typically 4 to 9 inches (10 to 23 centimeters) long and have a distinctive shape with rounded lobes.

3. Acorns: White Oak produces acorns that are an important food source for wildlife. The acorns are oval-shaped and about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) long. They have a cap that covers about one-third of the nut. The acorns mature in one season and are an important food source for birds, squirrels, and other animals.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Low Maintenance.  Chlorosis is common in alkaline or neutral soils.  Oaks are susceptible to a large number of diseases, including oak wilt, blight, root rot, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, cankers, leaf spots, and powdery mildew.  Potential insect pests include scale, oak skeletonizer, leaf miner, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars and nut weevils.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings,  Borders,  Woodland Gardens,  Naturalized Areas,  Wildlife Gardens,   Privacy Screen, and  Shade Tree.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Crape Myrtle,  Serviceberry,  Magnolia

IMAGE: Photo by David J. Stang,  Quercus alba 22zz,  CC BY-SA 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown