{"slug":"quercus-bicolor","scientific_name":"Quercus bicolor","common_names":["Swamp white oak","Bicolor oak"],"family":"Fagaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":17,"mature_spread_m":17,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":300,"hardiness_zones":[4,8],"sun":"full","water":"medium","soil":"Prefers moist to wet acidic soil but tolerates clay, poor drainage and dry spells; may yellow on high-pH soil","native_range":"Eastern and central United States and adjacent Ontario and Quebec, from Maine to South Carolina and west to Minnesota and Tennessee.","description":"A medium-large oak with a broad, rounded crown and bark that peels on young branches to show orange underneath. Leaves are dark green above and silvery-white below, turning gold to orange-brown in fall, and stalked acorns come in pairs. It transplants easily, handles both flooding and drought once established and tolerates road salt, which is why it has become a favorite street and rain-garden tree (it was chosen for the 9/11 Memorial plaza).","care":"Plant in full sun in acidic to neutral soil and avoid strongly alkaline sites. Water through the first two summers; it then tolerates wet feet and drought. Prune in winter to avoid attracting oak-wilt beetles; anthracnose, powdery mildew and galls are cosmetic.","benefits":["shade","wildlife","pollinators","birds","edible","flood_tolerant","drought_tolerant","salt_tolerant","fall_color","long_lived"],"uses":["street_tree","yard_shade","parks","riparian"],"cautions":["messy_fruit","toxic_parts","pest_prone"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Quercus_bicolor_morton_acc_71-69-2.jpg","image_credit":"Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-bicolor/","https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/swamp-white-oak/","https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUBI","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_bicolor"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-bicolor","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-bicolor.md","regions":[{"country":"CA","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native to southern Ontario and Quebec.","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUBI"},{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native from Maine to South Carolina and west to Minnesota and Tennessee (more than 15 states).","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUBI"},{"country":"CA","region":"ON","locality":"Toronto","status":"recommended","note":"On Toronto's list of species planted on streets (native to Ontario).","source_url":"https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/trees/tree-planting/species-planted-on-streets/"},{"country":"US","region":"CO","locality":"Denver","status":"recommended","note":"On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/747/documents/forestry/Street_tree_guide.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"DC","locality":"Washington","status":"recommended","note":"On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list","source_url":"https://caseytrees.org/rebate"},{"country":"US","region":"MA","locality":"Boston","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Boston Urban Forestry Division recommended public street trees list","source_url":"https://www.boston.gov/urban-forestry-division"},{"country":"US","region":"NY","locality":"New York","status":"recommended","note":"On the NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Approved Species List","source_url":"https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/species-list"},{"country":"US","region":"OR","locality":"Portland","status":"recommended","note":"On Portland's approved street tree list for planting strips 8.5 ft and wider.","source_url":"https://www.portland.gov/trees/85-foot-wide-and-greater-planting-spaces-without-high-voltage-power-lines"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}