How to Recognize Me
Swamp white oak is a native medium sized, deciduous tree with a broad, rounded crown and a short trunk. The tree is found in moist to swampy locations in bottomlands and lowlands, such as along streams and lakes, valleys, floodplains and at the edge of swamps. Leaves are dark, shiny green above and silvery white beneath, with 5-10 rounded lobes or blunt teeth along the margins. Fall color is yellow but sometimes reddish-purple. Insignificant flowers in separate male and female catkins in spring. Fruits are 1-2 acorns on peduncle up to 4” long that mature in early Autumn.
I Am Special to My Watershed
Quercus bicolor is easy to transplant due to lack of a taproot. It is used for shade, fuel wood and noise reduction. Its water retention ability helps to eliminate runoff and standing water in suburban and urban communities.
Swamp white oak is generally a durable and long-lived tree, sometimes living to 350 years, but is susceptible to a large number of potential diseases and insect pests, including anthracnose, canker, leaf spot,
rust, blight, galls, caterpillars, borers, leaf miners, oak lace bug and oak mite. Chlorosis, yellowing of the leaves while the veins remain green, often occurs when soils are not properly acidic.
I Am Special to Wildlife
Wildlife such as deer, ducks, geese and other others are attracted to this tree when acorns drop in Autumn. Swamp white oak produces a hard wood that is used for construction, cabinet making, boat building, railroad ties, fencing and cooperage.