Habitat

• eastern and central U. S.
• zone 4, possibly warmer parts of 3

Habit and Form

• a large, deciduous tree
• 60 to 80' tall
• as wide or wider, than tall
• pyramidal when young
• rounded, broad-rounded or upright rounded when mature
• branching is irregular and wide-spreading; interesting

Summer Foliage

• alternate leaf arrangement
• leaves are 4" to 8" long
• rounded lobes
• 5 to 9 lobes per leaf
• color is dull, blue-green when mature
• new leaves are a bright, grayish green

Autumn Foliage

• purple-red
• generally fairly showy
• color develops late
• color is long lasting

Flowers

• monoecious
• male flowers are pendulous yellow-green catkins
• blooms in May
• messy

Fruit

• elongated acorn in pairs on singly
• 0.75" to 1" long
• bowl-like cap is bumpy
• acorns mature in a single season
• fruit can be numerous

Bark

• white or light gray, flaky bark
• ornamentally attractive

Culture

• full sun
• acidic soil
• transplant at a small size
• can be difficult to move and establish
• dislikes being disturbed
• slow-growing

Landscape Use

• shade tree
• for large area
• existing native trees are often saved during construction
• one of the most attractive oaks
• long-lived and desirable

Liabilities

• slow-growing
• difficult to transplant and establish
• numerous caterpillar prefers feeding on white oak, esp. gypsy moth
• numerous insect and disease pests, but damage is rarely significant

ID Features

• leaves with rounded lobes
• ashy gray or white, flaky bark
• small, elongated acorns

Propagation

• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

• none