White Oak
Quercus alba · Deciduous broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Fagaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Forest Tree, Timber Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Species type, no specific cultivar identified from bark alone
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3 through 9
About This Tree
Large, majestic shade tree with a broad, rounded canopy, sturdy spreading branches, and a massive trunk at maturity
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate, simple leaves with 5 to 9 rounded lobes, deep sinuses, smooth margins, bright green in summer turning rich red to purplish-brown in autumn
Bark Characteristics
Light gray to whitish, divided into shallow, vertical furrows with scaly blocks, heavily colonized by green and gray crustose lichens
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern and central North America
Growing Season
Spring leaf-out, flowering in April-May, acorns dropping in autumn, winter dormancy
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred, moderate watering needs once established, exhibits good drought tolerance
Mature Size
80 to 100 feet tall with an equal or greater spread, slow to moderate growth rate, long lifespan exceeding several centuries
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for dense durable timber, excellent reddish-brown fall foliage color, and strong resistance to many urban stresses
Wildlife & Ecology
Supports numerous caterpillars and beneficial insects, produces acorns that are a primary food source for turkeys, squirrels, deer, and jays, and offers nesting sites for birds