# White oak (Quercus alba)

> A massive, long-lived oak that is pyramidal when young and becomes broad and rounded, often wider than tall, with light ashy-gray bark in flat plates. The rounded-lobed leaves emerge pink, mature dark green and turn wine-red to brown in fall. Acorns feed turkeys, jays, woodpeckers and deer, and the tree hosts hundreds of caterpillar species. It needs a large yard or park and does not belong in a parking strip.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-alba · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Eastern white oak
- Family: Fagaceae
- Type: Broadleaf, drops leaves
- Mature height: 24 m; spread 24 m
- Growth: Slow growing; lives about 300 years
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 9
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Moderate water
- Soil: Deep, moist, well-drained, slightly acidic loam; tolerates clay, sand and dry sites but not wet or compacted soil
- Native range: Eastern and central North America from Minnesota, Ontario, Quebec and southern Maine south to northern Florida and eastern Texas.

**Benefits:** Shade, Wildlife, Pollinators, Birds, Edible, Fall color, Long lived, Drought tolerant

**Good for:** Yard shade, parks, Timber, Reforestation

**Watch out for:** Large roots, Heavy litter, Toxic parts

## Care

Hard to transplant because of its taproot, so start with a small tree in full sun and deep, well-drained acidic soil and keep it watered for two seasons. Prune only in the dormant season so beetles that spread oak wilt are not attracted to fresh wounds. Oak wilt, anthracnose, galls, scale and two-lined chestnut borer occur but rarely matter on a healthy tree; protect the roots from construction and compaction.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** Canada (Native to southern Ontario and Quebec.); United States (Native across the eastern US from Maine and Minnesota to Florida and Texas (more than 15 states).)
- **Recommended:** Toronto, ON, Canada (On Toronto's list of species planted on streets (native to Ontario).); Denver, CO, United States (On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List); Washington, DC, United States (On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list); Atlanta, GA, United States (On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list); Boston, MA, United States (On the City of Boston Urban Forestry Division recommended public street trees list); Dallas, TX, United States (On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List); Houston, TX, United States (On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List)

## Sources

- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-alba/
- https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/white-oak/
- https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUAL
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_alba