White Oak

Scientific Name: Quercus alba

Family: Fagaceae

Origin: Eastern and Central US

White Oak

Why is it called White Oak? It usually has light gray bark, though you will rarely find one with white bark. The White Oak is named for the color of the finished wood.

Common Names: Eastern White Oak and Stave Oak

Mature Height: 50-80 feet

Mature Width/Spread: 50-80 feet

Leaves: They are 5-9 inches long, have 7 to 9 lobes, and are alternately arranged on the stems.  The leaves are widest in the middle and have a rounded tip and wedge-shaped base. They are bright green above and whitish underneath.

In the fall, the leaves become: Red or brown

Historical tidbit: The USS Constitution is a famous naval ship that is made of Eastern White Oak and Southern Live Oak. It also known as Old Ironsides for its naval battles in the War of 1812.

Did you know …

  • Its acorns grow up to one inch long and mature and drop in the fall? The acorns are a valuable food source for squirrels, deer, rabbits and many birds.
  • The White Oak can live for 200 to 300 years.
  • Even though it’s native to North America, this tree is an endangered species.
  • The Eastern White Oak is the state tree of Connecticut, Illinois, and Maryland.
White Oak Leaves & Acorns

Sources

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_alba

https://www.britannica.com/plant/white-oak

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=883

https://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/whiteoak.htm

https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_qual.pdf

https://www-pub.naz.edu/~treewalk/whiteoak/whiteoak.htm

http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-oak-trees/

Photo Credit

Photos courtesy of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Tree species information from http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/trees

PAGE INFORMATION WAS COMPILED AS PART OF NOAH WERNING’S 2020 EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT.