A well known shade tree with good drought tolerance and adaptable soil requirements. Plants are slow growing but long lived- young individuals have a pyramidal shape and mature trees are spreading. A perfect plant to add a valuable host and nut bearing species to dry sites!

Pollination: 2+ individuals needed.

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture: Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry

Soil Type: Loam, Sandy Loam, Clay Loam, Rocky Loam

Height: 60’-100’

Width: 50’-80’

Bloom Color: -

Bloom Time: May

Fruit: Mid sized acorns mature in fall.

Fall Color: Red, Purple, Brown

Root Type: Taproot

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Like all oaks it hosts a wide variety of insects including several hairstreak butterflies, several duskywing skippers, dozens of species of moth including the cecropia, treehoppers, leafhoppers, wasps, beetles, walkingsticks, and many smaller insects. The comparatively less bitter acorns are favored by wildlife including bobwhite, blue jays, squirrels, and deer. Commonly browsed by deer and rabbits. Large size makes older trees valuable for cavity nesting birds.

Notes: Wood is valued in the timber industry. Individuals can live 600 years. Should not be planted in areas prone to flooding. Acorns are not a terribly popular food, but are edible after processing and white oak acorns, naturally low in tannins, are the easiest to process. Very similar to swamp white oak except, that’s right, white oak prefers dryer soils.