Swamp White Oak
Introduction
The swamp white oak is a grand tree that loves the water and thrives in swampy marshlands. Its size and strength make it perfect for shoring up riverbeds and providing cover for all sorts of wildlife. .
Common Name
Swamp white oak
Latin Name
Quercus bicolor
Leaf
Broad ovoid*, with pale white underside, shallowly lobed with 5 to 7 lobes on each side
Flower
Male flowers are long yellow-green catkins*; females are green to red, very small
Fruit/Nut
Acorn is tan, with a bowl-shaped cap that covers about a third of the nut
Twig/branches
Moderately stout, light brown; terminal buds short, blunt and light brown
Bark
Gray and scaly, with irregular fissures and ridges developing as it ages
Form
Irregular open crown
Size
Can reach 65 to 80 feet tall, with the tallest known tree reaching 95 feet
Native Range
Ranges from southwestern Maine to west central Michigan and northern Wisconsin, south to Iowa and Missouri, east to Virginia and New Jersey
Type
Medium deciduous shade tree
Seasonal Colors
Brown, yellow-brown and sometimes dull red in the fall
Soil
Prefers rich, deep, moist soils that are neutral or only slightly alkaline
Light
Thrives in full sunlight or partial sunlight
Similar Species
Swamp chestnut oak, chestnut oak, chinkapin oak, bur oak
Pests and Diseases
Oak anthracnose is a problem but not a fatal issue. Swamp white oaks are vulnerable to oak wilt and can die if not treated.
Rebate Eligibility
$100
Of Note
The New York Times has reported that over 400 swamp white oak trees are being planted in the newly constructed September 11 Memorial Plaza in Manhattan.
Swamp white oak acorns were found to make up 27% of the diet of wild ducks.
Native Americans and early pioneers used powdered swamp white oak acorns as a thickening agent for stews and to make bread.
Photo Credits
Ninjatacoshell
maggie_and_her_camera
maggie_and_her_camera(2)
maggie_and_her_camera(3)
MONGO
Tie Guy II
maggie_and_her_camera
maggie_and_her_camera(2)
maggie_and_her_camera(3)
MONGO
Tie Guy II
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