white oak (Quercus alba)

First place champion white oak in Boulder outside of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

Species info:

Leaves: Simple, alternate, 4–8.5” long and about half as wide; narrow at base with 5–9 oblong, rounded lobes and smooth margins

Leaflets: N/A (leaves are simple)

Leaf Surface: New leaves bright grayish-green; mature leaves dark green to blue-green above with pale or waxy underside

Bark: Whitish-gray; scaly on smaller stems; on mature trees, bark becomes irregularly blocky or deeply fissured with narrow ridges

Flowers: Monoecious; both sexes on same tree; male flowers yellowish, in 2–4” catkins; female flowers small, reddish spikes appearing shortly after males

Botanical: Quercus alba

Family: Fagaceae

Mature Height: 50–80 feet

Canopy Spread: 50 to 80 feet

Foliage Type: Deciduous

Tree Shape: Pyramidal

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Fruit: Acorn, edible, but requires processing

Fall Color: Showy; brown to rich red to reddish-purple; develops late and lasts long

Water Use: Moderate; prefers deep, moist, well-drained, acidic soils

Hardiness: Zones 3B–9

Wildlife Value: Extremely high; acorns provide food for over 180 bird and mammal species; excellent habitat and mast source

Pests/Pathogens: Susceptible to gypsy moth, oak wilt, two-lined chestnut borer, and woodborers (economic concern), but generally hardy and long-lived

Recommendations for planting: Conditionally recommended, highly chlorotic in alkaline soils

Information sources:

• Michael Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (University of Georgia, 1990)

• Mark H. Brand , Quercus alba – Plant Page, UConn Plant Database of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines

• Virginia Tech Department of Forestry, College of Natural Resources, Quercus alba Fact Sheet

• USDA Forest Service, Silvics Manual Volume 2 -- Hardwoods, Agricultural Handbook 654.