Quercus Alba, White Oak Tree Identification Fact Sheet

This is the tree, shrub, and vine identification project fact sheet for Quercus alba, White Oak. This fact sheet may not be copied in part or in whole and submitted as one's own project, but may be cited as a source of facts during one's own research. See tree, shrub, and vine identification project main page for links to other plants, and Deciduous tall trees slideshow for pictures.

Plant Botanical Name: Quercus alba

Common Name: White Oak

Family Name: Fagaceae

Plant is Native to What Country: Eastern and central US.

Plant Height at Maturity: 60-90 feet tall and wide.

Plant Habit and Form: Deciduous tree, pyramidal with moderate growth when young, becoming rounded and slow growing when mature. Branching is irregular, specimens in open areas often have wide spreading branches.

Foliage: Leaves alternate, 4-8 inches long and 2-6 inches wide, with 5-9 rounded lobes per leaf. Leaves are green maturing to dull blue green.

Bark: Light gray or whitish gray bark, more flaky than furrowed.

Flower: Monoecious flowers bloom in late April or in May. Male flowers are yellow-green catkins, female flowers inconspicuous.

Fruit/Seed: Acorns, elongated in shape, maturing the first year. Acorns often up to a half inch wide and an inch long, with the acorn cap covering a third or less of the acorn.

Growing Requirements: White Oak is hardy to zone 4. Grows best in acidic soils, tolerating a wide range of site and soil characteristics. White oak does not favor water saturated soils.

Problems and Drawbacks: White Oak is difficult to transplant. Gypsy moth and other caterpillars favor feeding on the leaves. Trees are susceptible to various insects and diseases, but damage usually isn't serious.

Special Uses: White Oak is very attractive often used as a specimen in the landscape. Existing white oaks are often saved during new construction. An excellent shade tree, White Oak is long lived, often living over 500 years.

ID Tips/Remarks: Mature specimens are very picturesque in habit and stature.

Bibliography: http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/q/quealb/quealb1.html, http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/quealb/all.html, http://www.plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=QUAL.