White Oak (Quercus alba)

Leaves Photo by: J.S. Peterson, USDA Plant Database	Bark Photo by: Daniel Tigner, Canadian Forest Tree Essences
Fruit Photo by: Steve Baskauf, Bioimages	Tree Photo by: iStockPhoto.com

The white oak is a large tree that can live for several hundred years.  It’s found in southern Ontario and can grow to be more than 35 metres tall.

Acorns from the white oak are 1.2 to 2.5 centimetres long.  It takes 2 years for acorns to be fully grown, and they drop off in the fall once they are ripe.  Birds, squirrels and other animals eat acorns from the white oak.

Its leaves are 10 to 20 centimetres long and have 7 to 9 lobes.  They are bright green on top and are a paler green underneath.  They turn red-purple in the fall before falling off.

The white oak’s bark is whitish to pale gray, usually with long scales. 

Size:  20 to 30 metres tall, trunk 50 to 120 centimetres in diameter
Moisture:  Can tolerate a variety of moisture levels
Shade:  Prefers full sun

Soil:  Can tolerate a variety of soils

Planting tip:  The white oak is an adaptable tree that will grow almost anywhere. With its deep rooting system, it should not be planted close to septic tanks or drainage tiles. More tips...