White Oak
Quercus alba · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Fagaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Forest Tree, Nut Tree
Variety / Cultivar
None (dominant native species)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-9; highly adaptable to various climatic ranges across North America.
About This Tree
A massive, long-lived tree with a broad, rounded crown and horizontal branching. It is characterized by slow growth and high structural strength.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, 4-9 inches long with 7-9 rounded lobes. Deeply to moderately sinus. Bright green above, whitish/glaucous underneath; turns burgundy to brown in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Light gray to whitish, thick, and broken into small, vertical, overlapping plates or scales that are flaky on older specimens.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern and Central North America
Growing Season
Bud break in spring, flowering in late spring, acorn maturation in late summer/fall, dormancy in winter
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun; prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils but adapts to various types; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
50-80 feet height, 50-80 feet spread; growth rate is slow (1 foot per year); can live 300-600 years.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional timber value for furniture and white-oak barrels (liquid-tight); distinctive ring-porous wood grain; brilliant fall color in ideal conditions.
Wildlife & Ecology
High ecological value; produces sweet acorns that are a primary food source for deer, turkeys, and squirrels; supports hundreds of species of lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).