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Quercus alba

Quercus alba

White oak

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Description

Quercus alba (American white oak) is the most common tree species in the eastern regions of the United States. The white oak group shows the greatest similarities to the European Quercus robur and Quercus petraea. In America, they form extensive forests, usually together with other oaks and Carya species, but also with Liriodendron tulipifera and Tsuga canadensis. The American white oak grows pyramidal with a dense crown when young, later developing an oval to broad rounded crown, eventually reaching approximately thirty meters in both height and width.

The emerging leaves of Quercus alba are gray hairy and pinkish, turning glossy dark green in summer with a blue green underside. In autumn, the foliage shifts to shades of yellow to deep red. Young trees often hold their leaves well into winter. The leaves, with three to six rounded, narrow lobes, are elongated, inversely ovate, and deeply lobed. This oak blooms in May with yellow catkins. The acorn cups cover about one third of the chocolate brown acorn and have only a short stalk. The bark of the American white oak is ash gray to brown gray, divided into small, peeling plates.

The American white oak grows under a wide variety of climatic conditions, soil types, and moisture levels. Only extremely dry or very wet soils are unsuitable. In the United States, it is an important timber species. Although this tree is tolerant of road salt, its broad crown and abundant acorn production make it less ideal for use in streets and avenues. In Europe, Quercus alba is rarely planted, but it forms a magnificent large and wide park tree with outstanding autumn color.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees

Use

Location

park large garden cemetery countryside

Pavement

none none

Planting concepts

landscape planting

Characteristics

Crown shape

rounded rounded flattened spherical flattened spherical pyramidal pyramidal

Crown structure

dense dense

Height

18 - 30 m

Width

18 - 30 m

Winter hardiness zone

3A - 8B

Aspects

Wind

tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay peaty heavy clay light clay sand loamy soil all soils

Nutrient level

low in nutrients moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

dry moist

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic neutral alkaline

Host plant/forage plant

birds small mammals

Extreme environments

tolerant to salt spray tolerant to dryness

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Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Quercus alba? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
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Photos

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high-stem standard tree
Quercus alba standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Quercus alba standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Quercus alba standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Quercus alba standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Quercus alba standard tree
bark bark
Quercus alba bark
leaves leaves
Quercus alba leaves
leaves leaves
Quercus alba leaves
leaves leaves
Quercus alba leaves
leaves leaves
Quercus alba leaves
leaves leaves
Quercus alba leaves
leaves leaves
Quercus alba leaves
leaves leaves
Quercus alba leaves
twigs twigs
Quercus alba twigs

Flowers

Flowers

catkins pendulous

Flower colour

yellow

Flowering period

May

Leaves

Leaf colour

dark green underside blue-green

Leaves

deciduous obovate polished dissected lobate

Autumn colour

yellow-orange orange-red red-brown red scarlet

Fruits

Fruit colour

brown

Fruits

discrete rich fruit yield acorn

Bark

Bark colour

grey-brown grey

Bark

peeling

Twigs

Twig colour

grey

Twigs

bare horizontal branches

Root system

Root system

deep shallow slightly branched highly branched tap root

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Aspects
Wind
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Soil
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Nutrient level
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Extreme environments
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Stage of succession
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Plant characteristics
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December
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Winter hardiness

A plant's winter hardiness is the coldest area in which it is frost-resistant. This is based on the average annual minimum temperature. Winter hardiness zones are thirteen different frost zones in steps of 5.5 degrees Celsius. This format is an international standard for the hardiness of plants. The zones in which the plant is frost-resistant are always included in the description of trees and other vegetation.

Winter hardiness is a genetic characteristic and is not influenced by the location in which the plant is cultivated. This means that a plant that has been cultivated for many years in winter-hardiness zone 6 but has a winter hardiness of 3 is perfectly suited for replanting in a colder zone. It will thrive there thanks to its genetic characteristics.

When choosing planting for a project, the winter hardiness of the plants is extremely important. By choosing species that match the zone in which the project is being created, it is possible to ensure that plants can withstand the minimum temperature in that area.

Winter hardiness map
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MVO-Nederland
ISO-9001
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British Asssociation of Landscape Industries

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E info@ebben.nl

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