white oak

white oak (Quercus Alba)

Description:

White oak is the iconic species of the open oak woodland community that once dominated large areas of southwestern Wisconsin. It is at home in mesic and dry mesic prairie settings, as well.

white oak

USDA Symbol:	Common Name:	Scientific Name:
QUAL	white oak	Quercus alba

ITIS TSN: 19290

Category: Dicot

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom:

Super Division: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Subdivision:

Class: Magnoliopsida

SubClass: Hamamelididae

Order: Fagales

Family: Fagaceae

Counties: Adams, Ashland, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood

Natural Community: Southern Red Oak-Mixed Forest, Black Oak-Hill's Oak Barrens

Curtis Community: Northern Dry Forest, Northern Dry-mesic Forest, Southern Wet-Mesic Forest, Southern Wet Forest, Southern Dry-mesic Forest, Oak Barrens, Oak Opening

Coefficient of Conservation: 7

Duration:	Growth Habit:	Native Status:
Perennial	Tree	L48(N)CAN(N)

NR40 Listed Plant	Noxious Weed:	Invasive Species (NR40):	Threatened/Endangered:	WI Natural Heritage Index:	Wetland Status
		Native			FACU

Active Growth Period: Spring and Summer

After Harvest Regrowth Rate:

Bloat: None

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio: High

Coppice Potential: Yes

Conspicuous Fall Color: Yes

Fire Resistant: No

Flower Color: Yellow

Conspicuous Flower: No

Foliage Color: Green

Foliage Light Porosity Summer: Dense

Foliage Porosity Winter: Porous

Foliage Texture: Medium

Fruit/Seed Color: Brown

Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: Yes

Growth Form: Single Stem

Growth Rate: Slow

Height at Base Age (Max): 25

Height at Maturity: 100

Known Alelopath: No

Leaf Retention: No

Lifespan: Long

Low Growing Grass: No

Re-sproutability: Yes

Shape and Orientation: Erect

Toxicity: None

Height (min):

Height (max):

Root Type:

Leaf Type:

Leaf Arrangement:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Margin:

Vein Pattern:

Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes

Adapted to Medium Textured Soils: Yes

Adapted to Fine Textured Soils: No

Anaerobic Tolerance:

CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Cold Stratification Required: No

Drought Tolerance: Medium

Fertility Requirement: Low

_Fire Tolerance: Medium

Frost Free Days, Minimum: 145

Hedge Tolerance: None

Moisture Use: Medium

pH (Minimum): 4.5

pH (Maximum): 6.8

Planting Density per Acre, Minimum: 300

Planting Density per Acre, Maximum: 800

Precipitation (Minimum): 30

Precipitation (Maximum): 80

Root Depth, Minimum (inches): 48

Salinity Tolerance: Medium

Shade Tolerance: Intermediate

Temperature, Minimum (°F): -43

Plant Spacing (min):

Plant Spacing (max):

Bloom Period:	Commercial Availability:	Fruit/Seed Abundance:
Mid Spring	Routinely Available	High

Fruit/Seed Period Begin:	Fruit/Seed Period End:	Fruit/Seed Persistence:
Summer	Fall	No

Propogated by Bare Root:	Propogated by Bulbs:	Propogated by Container:
Yes	No	Yes

Propogated by Corms:	Propogated by Cuttings:	Propogated by Seed:
No	No	Yes

Propogated by Sod:	Propogated by Sprigs:	Propogated by Tubers:
No	No	No

Seeds per Pound:	Seed Spread Rate:	Seedling Vigor:
128	Slow	High

Small Grain:	Vegetative Spread Rate:	Propagation Treatment:
No	None

Days to Stratify:	Direct Sowing Time:

Benefits:

Berry/Nut/Seed Product:	Christmas Tree Product:	Fodder Product:
No	No	No

Fuelwood Product:	Lumber Product:	Naval Store Product:
High	Yes	Yes

Nursery Stock Product:	Palatable Browse Animal:	Palatable Graze Animal:
Yes	Medium	--

Palatable Human:	Post Product:	Protein Potential:
No	No	Medium

Pulpwood Product:	Veneer Product:
No	Yes

Benefits:	Wildlife Food Value:	Wildlife Cover Value:

Propagation:

Native Plant Network – Bare Root (field grown)
Native Plant Network – Seed (plug)

References:

Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Review – Quercus alba
FEIS Fire Regime – Quercus alba
iNaturalist Database – Quercus alba
Long-term changes in an oak forest’s woody understory and herb layer with repeated burning
North American Plant Atlas (BONAP) – Quercus alba
USDA Plants Database – Quercus alba
WisFlora Database – Quercus alba
World Plants Database – Quercus alba