Quercus alba (White Oak)

Regarded by many as the most noble American oak, Quercus alba (White Oak) is a large deciduous tree of pyramidal habit in youth, becoming oval-rounded to rounded with age. The leaves feature 7-9 rounded lobes. They emerge pink in spring, mature to dark green and turn a good russet-red in the fall. Inconspicuous yellow-green catkins appear in spring as the leaves emerge. The trunk and branches, with their ash gray, checked and scaled bark provide architectural elegance and winter interest. The rich brown, oval acorns, 1 in. long (2.5 cm), are a valuable source of food for small mammals and birds. A fast grower, it is a very impressive tree at maturity and makes an excellent shade or lawn tree for large areas. Mildew resistant, it is long-lived (up to 600 years!) and regarded as a great choice for Western gardens.

• Grows up to 50-80 ft. tall and wide (15-24 m).
• A full sun lover, this tree is easily grown in rich, dry to moist, acidic, well-drained loams. Adaptable to a wide range of soil moisture, pH, and compaction, and survives both significant drought and short periods of flooding. Grows best in well-drained sandy soils and loams but also grows in clay and alluvial soils. It is resistant to salt spray and high soil salinity.
• Perfect as a specimen plant.
• Keep an eye out for oak wilt, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, scale, oak skeletonizer, leaf miner and lace bug.
• Toxic to horses.
• Native to the eastern United States.