PLANT OF THE MONTH
December, 2008
Plant of the Month Feature
by Bill Petsche
ISU Extension Service Director
ROOTS Board Member
Quercus alba
White Oak
Being a woodworking hobbyist, I have worked with various types of wood over the years. The old standby that you canÕt go wrong with though is White Oak. White Oak is known to woodworkers for its durability, strength and resistance to rot. Although more expensive than Red Oak, it is preferred by woodworkers because of these traits. This was the signature wood used in Mission Style furniture popularized during the Arts and Crafts Movement. White Oak is used in furniture, flooring, architectural millwork, mouldings, doors, kitchen cabinets, paneling, barrels, casks and caskets. Since White Oak reacts with iron, galvanized nails and brass screws are recommended when used in woodworking.
White oak grows throughout most of the Eastern United States. It is found from southwestern Maine and extreme southern Quebec, west to southern Ontario, central Michigan, to southeastern Minnesota; south to western Iowa, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas; east to northern Florida and Georgia. The tree is generally absent in the high Appalachians, in the Delta region of the lower Mississippi, and in the coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana. The west slopes of the Appalachian Mountains and the Ohio and central Mississippi River Valleys have optimum conditions for white oak, but the largest trees have been found in Delaware and Maryland on the Eastern Shore. Although it is called a white oak, the bark is usually found to be an ashen gray. White Oaks grow to a height of 65-85 feet at maturity. White Oaks are known for their massive branches which allow some to be as wide as they are tall.
White Oaks grow large, flat leaves, up to 9 inches long and 5 inches wide. Leaves are dark green in the summer and turn to a red or brown color in the autumn depending on climate, site and genetics. The trees produce acorns each year which are used as food by all types of wildlife including birds, rabbits, squirrels and deer.
The tree grows best on deep, well-drained, upland soils, but is fairly tolerant of a variety of habitats and may be found on ridges, in valleys, dry and moist habitats and in moderately acidic soils. The White Oak prefers partial shade to full sun. The White Oak makes an outstanding shade tree due to its wide spread and durable limbs. Pruning should be done in winter or early spring; however, dead or damaged wood can be removed anytime.
About the author: Bill Petsche is a member of the Bickelhaupt Arboretum Roots Advisory Board and also serves as the Clinton County Extension Education Director.