Quercus phellos
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Quercus phellos f. itonsa
- Quercus phellos var. sylvatica
- Quercus phellos var. viridis
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus FEL-os
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Willow Oak is a medium to large-size and fast-growing deciduous tree in the Fagaceae family and the red oak group. It may grow 40 to 75 feet tall and 25 to 50 feet wide and has an oval to rounded crown. It can reach up to 100 feet tall and is long-lived. In North Carolina, it can be found in all areas of the state. It has a nice balanced, rounded form and fine texture that has made it a popular shade tree for the landscape. Willow Oak starts producing acorns at the age of 15 to 20 years. This tree is a high-value wildlife tree for birds and mammals.
The willow oak is native to the southeastern United States, and it is typically found in the woods bordering swamps, streams, or canals.
The genus name, Quercus, is the Latin name for oak trees. The epithet, phellos, is the Greek name for cork.
Willow Oak is easy to grow in acidic, average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. It is adaptable to a variety of soil types including clay soils. It is tolerant of urban pollution. It has a fibrous root system and transplants well.
It may be utilized as a shade tree in commercial establishments, parks, golf courses, large yards, and as a street tree. It may also do well along ponds or water gardens. It is toxic to horses.
Seasons of Interest:
Bark: Winter Foliage: Summer and Fall Fruits: Fall
Quick ID Hints:
- gray to dark gray-brown furrowed bark with age
- smooth-edged, bristle-tipped, narrow, green leaves
- Leaf pubescence below in axillary tufts of hairs
- yellow-green male and female catkins appear in the spring
- rounded acorns that are up to 0.5 inches long
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Most oak trees are susceptible to many diseases and insect pests: however, the willow oak tends to have good resistance. Potential insects may include scale, oak skeletonizer, leaf miner, galls, lace bugs, borers, caterpillars, and weevils. Possible diseases include shoestring root rot, anthracnose, oak wilt, chestnut blight, cankers, leaf spots, and powdery mildew. Chlorosis due to iron deficiency occurs on high pH soil. This tree is susceptible to wind damage
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Extension Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, Durham Co.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'High Tower'
- 'High Tower'
- 'High Tower'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'High Tower'
- 'High Tower'
- 'High Tower'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- phellos
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- This wood is used in construction for lumber, crossties, and pulp.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- Native: United States--AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, and VA.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Its acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, songbirds, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, quail and black bears.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The 1/2 inch long rounded acorns with a scaly bowl-like cap that is striated with brown and black bands. Acorns come singly or in pairs. Displays from September to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Yellowish-green male flowers as long pendulous catkins. Female flowers in short spikes. Blooms from March to April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 4-5-inch-long green leaves are 1 inch wide and willow-like. Bristle tipped at the apex. The fall color is non-showy yellowish orange-brown to red-brown. Leaves are simple, alternate, slender, smooth-edged, and shiny light green above while paler below with visible venation. The leaf margins are entire and wavy.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- When young the bark is smooth and reddish-brown. The bark ages to gray to dark gray-brown with shallow ridges and furrows.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Branches and larger twigs are light gray to medium gray and relatively smooth. The stems are slender, hairless, and greenish-brown when young. Buds are ovoid, 1/4" long, sharply pointed, with imbricate scales, and reddish-brown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Pollution
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
