White Oak
Quercus alba L.
Also called: Eastern White Oak
White Oak. Quercus alba, the white oak, is a long-lived, majestic deciduous tree native to eastern and central North America and the namesake of the white oak group. Capable of living 300–600 years and reaching 80–100 feet, it has distinctive rounded leaf lobes, pale flaky bark, and sweet acorns that feed an enormous range of wildlife. Among the most ecologically valuable and structurally magnificent of native trees.
Growing & care
- Sun: full sun.
- Water: average; established trees are drought-tolerant. Dislikes prolonged wet feet.
- Soil: deep, well-drained, slightly acidic loam preferred, but adaptable.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 3–9.
- Mature size: 50–100 feet tall and nearly as wide — a tree for large properties and future generations.
- Transplanting: notoriously difficult to move due to a deep taproot; plant small, container-grown trees and disturb the roots as little as possible.
Propagation
White oak acorns mature in a single season and germinate immediately in fall without stratification — they cannot be dried or stored long. Collect ripe acorns, float-test to discard rotten ones, and sow promptly in deep pots or directly in the ground. Seedlings put energy into the taproot first, so top growth is slow at first.
Common problems
White oak is remarkably resistant to most serious diseases, including being far less susceptible to oak wilt than red oaks. It is slow-growing and difficult to transplant, which is why it is underused in landscapes despite its value. Galls, anthracnose, and occasional defoliating caterpillars rarely cause lasting harm. Acorns and young foliage contain tannins toxic to horses and livestock in quantity; generally avoided by dogs and cats, though whole acorns pose a choking/obstruction risk to small dogs. Plant it as a legacy tree — it supports more wildlife than almost any other.
White Oak — seeds, tools & books
Native range
Native range not recorded for this plant. Often a non-native cultivar or naturalized garden plant.
