White Oak

25 plants per unit (bareroot seedlings)

Quercus alba, or White oak, is native to the far eastern part of Kansas. It is a large tree, reaching mature heights of 80-100 ft., and nearly as wide when grown in the open. One of the more beautiful shade trees, although it is relatively slow growing. It is less tolerant of wet soils than Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor).

Leaves, Stems, and Fruit
The leaves are simple and alternately arranged on the twigs. They are 5 to 9 inches long with 7 to 9 lobes. Leaves are blue-green above and pale beneath. Leaves turn brown or red in fall. The bark is light ash-gray with age, often broken into small, vertically arranged blocks. Not as flaky as chinkapin oak. Young twigs are slender to moderately stout, reddish brown or purplish brown, angled, and often covered with whitish bloom. Fruit is a large acorn, 0.5-0.75 inches long with a shallow cup, maturing in September to October.

Use

Timber - The wood is pale brown, heavy, hard, durable and coarse grained and is used for interior finishing, veneer, cabinets, general construction, fence posts and fuel.

Wildllife - The acorns of Quercus alba are excellent for songbirds, squirrels, raccoons and deer

Adaptation and Soil
White oak tolerates a wide range of soil conditions although it does not like surrounding soil to be disturbed once established.

Spacing
It is normally spaced 10 to 18 feet within the row. Space the rows 20 to 24 feet from adjacent trees or shrubs to prevent the oak from over-growing smaller plants or to prevent fast growing plants from over-growing the oak. In a timber planting, white oak can be planted in 10 x 10 feet to 15 x 15 feet spacing.

Culture
One year old bare-root seedlings, 12 to 18 inches tall are used in plantings. Survival is generally good. Initial growth is centered around root development.

White oak is very hearty and disease resistant. Few known major insect or disease problems exist.