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White Oak
Quercus alba

A large, deciduous, native tree, with the typical oak form of stout, wide-spreading branches and a rounded crown, reaching 60-80' tall. Used for strong, durable products and woodworking. With its broad crown and dense foliage, white oak is an excellent ornamental tree. It is valued for its use in reforestation and restoration projects. When planting this species, give it plenty of room.

USDA symbol: QUAL

General Information

Plant TypeTree
Height80 to 100 feet
Light ExposureSun, Part Sun
Soil MoistureDry, Medium
Bloom ColorYellow
White Oak (White Oak<div><em class="small">Quercus alba</em></div>)
Photo credit: Minnesota Wildflowers (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceModerate
General Resilience7
Salt ToleranceMedium
Stress ToleranceDrought Tolerant, Fire Tolerant

Pollinator Value: Medium

Bloom MonthsApril to May
Larval Host ofButterflies, Moths
Specific Pollinators HostedCameraria hamadryadella, Erynnis brizo, Erynnis juvenalis, Satyrium edwardsii

Project Planning

Project TypeErosion Control, Restoration, Upland Buffer
Coefficient of Conservatism5
Herbivore SensitivityMedium
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadSlow
Soil StabilizationDeep
Vegetative ReproductionClonal

Range

CountyAnoka, Carver, Chisago, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Kandiyohi, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Rice, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Todd, Wabasha, Washington, Winona, Wright
EcoregionDriftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands